IRVINE, Calif. -- The bracket was announced on Sunday night for the NCAA Division II men’s basketball championships and Biola and Fresno Pacific both earned their first berths in program history, while for Point Loma, it was an impressive fourth-consecutive trip to the NCAA postseason.
Biola earned its spot with the automatic qualifier after defeated Point Loma in the regular-season finale to win the PacWest SoCal Pod. The Eagles won their final three games of the regular season to come from behind to win the pod.
Point Loma was in the playoff picture all season and an 8-2 overall record was enough to land the defending national runner-up back in the postseason with a team that is poised to make a deep run. The Sea Lions open against Northwest Nazarene, who they defeated in the season opener.
Fresno Pacific also earned a berth as the No. 6 seed after winning three games in the final week to finish the year 11-1 against NCAA Division II teams. The Sunbirds will meet Biola for the first time this season in the first round.
Hawai`i Hilo finished the season as the PacWest Hawai`i Pod Champions with an impressive 10-2 record while facing the most unique challenge of any team in the country this year, facing two teams six times each, while having to fly to half of the games during a pandemic. It was an impressive start to the career of
Kaniela Aiona at Hawai`i Hilo, who in his first year led the Vulcans to their best winning percentage since 1977.
Weekly awards for the week of March 1-7
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chris Rossow, Biola
G, Sr., 5-9 -- Freeport, Tex.
Rossow has again shown that he is at his best when March rolls around, which is scary news for the rest of the field at the NCAA West Regional. After a record-setting performance at the PacWest Championships last season, this March, Rossow led Biola to a win over Point Loma in the regular-season finale to claim the SoCal Pod title and book the Eagles’ first trip to the NCAA postseason. The senior scored a team-high 24 points with four assists on 9 of 17 shooting to lead the Eagles to their most important win so far this season.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aamondae Coleman, Fresno Pacific
F, Sr., 6-6 -- Las Vegas
The PacWest Player of the Year candidate earned his fourth NorCal Pod Player of the Week award after leading the conference in scoring in the final week of the season, winning three games against Academy of Art and Humboldt State. Those three wins were enough to propel the Sunbirds into the playoff picture as the No. 6 seed. He has now made at least half of his field-goal attempts in nine-consecutive games with at least 14 points in each game during that streak, leading Fresno Pacific to eight wins.
HAWAI`I PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Darren Williams, Hawai`i Hilo
G, Jr., 5-8 -- Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Williams helped Hawai`i Hilo to wrap up an outstanding season with a 10-2 record after having to face Hawai`i Pacific and Chaminade six times each, which was an unprecedented challenge. The Vulcans went 4-2 against Chaminade and in the final two games, Williams scored 21 points both times. He made 7 of 10 shots in the first game and in the rematch, Williams added four steals and three assists. The junior finished the year averaging 14.4 points per game.