Box Score
(Recap courtesy of the Pacific West Conference)
AZUSA, Calif. – Steven Larson (South Jordan, UT/Copper Hills) amassed 22 points on 8 of 10 shooting from the field, while McKay Massey (Payson, UT/Payson) reeled off added 21 points as Dixie State outlasted Chaminade 92-80 in the inaugural Pacific West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Championship on Saturday, March 9, in Azusa, Calif.
The PacWest Women's and Men's Basketball Championship Tournaments are being held concurrently at Azusa Pacific University's Felix Event Center in Azusa, Calif.
The Red Storm captured both the PacWest regular-season and tournament titles, and claimed the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament. Dixie State will compete in the NCAA II West Regional next week at a site and date to be announced.
The NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship Tournament Selection Show will air live on the Internet at 7:30 p.m. PST on Sunday evening, March 10. Chaminade, along with Grand Canyon, are candidates for at-large berths.
Chaminade held a slim 38-35 lead at the half, but the Red Storm shot 60.0% (18 for 30) from the field in the second half and went 20 for 22 (90.9%) from the line following intermission to outscore the Silverswords 57-42 in the final 20 minutes.
Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) finished the game with a double-double, recording 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Kimball Payne (Alpine, UT/Lone Peak) added 10 points and six assists.
Bennie Murray led all scorers with 27 points, while De'Andre Haskins posted 14 points and seven rebounds. Lee Bailey tallied 13 points and Waly Coulibaly totaled 12.
Larson was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and was one of three Dixie State players on the All-Tournament Team. Robbins and Massey earned also made the squad.
Chaminade was represented by Haskins and Murray, while BYU-Hawaii's Junior Ale also received a spot on the team.
Dixie State is now 22-6 on the season while Chaminade is 19-10.
