BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- Forward Austin Swift had game highs of 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists, leading Cal Poly Pomona to a 71-62 triumph over Dixie State College in opening-round action Friday at the West Regional of the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament being played on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the campus of host Western Washington University.

Cal Poly Pomona, the No.4 seed in the region, improved to 23-6. Mitchel Anderson added 11 points off the bench for the Broncos, who reached the NCAA II national championship game last season.

Dixie State, the No.5 seed, concluded the season 20-6. The Red Storm, making their first national tournament appearance in only their second year of full NCAA membership, was led by the 16 points of guard Donovan Plunkett (Oroville, CA/Las Plumas). Forward Tom Whitehead (St. George, UT/Dixie) added 13 points.

The Broncos, who held regular-season opponents to 39.3 percent field-goal shooting, were even better defensively Friday, limiting Dixie State to just 34.0 percent (17-of-50) from the field.

Cal Poly Pomona never trailed, holding a 32-28 lead at halftime, then pulling away midway through the second half, using a 15-6 run to take a 51-38 lead with 7:40 to play. Dixie State never got closer than seven points after that.

The Broncos, who shot 51.0 percent (26-of-51) from the field, meet the top seed Western Washington on Saturday.