BYU-Hawaii jumps to #3 in NABC/Division II Coaches Poll

KANSAS CITY, MO - On Tuesday night, BYU-Hawaii ran its winning streak to 14 games, moved closer to a Pacific West Conference title, and improved its overall mark to 17-1 by beating Hawai‘i Hilo 83-71.

BYU-Hawaii's continued surge likely was buoyed by Tuesday afternoon's announcement that the Seasiders had climbed another notch in the national rankings.

The NABC/Division II Coaches Poll kept unbeaten Findlay (OH), now 20-0, number one in the nation and left LIU-C.W. Post (NY) second in Division II with its 18-0 mark, but BYU-Hawaii gave the PacWest its highest-ranked men's basketball team since the conference reorganized three years ago into its current configuration when the Seasiders jumped to number three in Division II.

After a non-league game Wednesday night at UHH, BYU-Hawaii begins its three-game Mainland road trip on Feb. 17 at Notre Dame de Namur with an opportunity to clinch the PacWest title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament.

BYU-Hawaii needs two victories or a win coupled with conference losses by Chaminade and Dixie State to capture the PacWest crown.

The Seasiders have been the top team in the NCAA Division II West Region ranking thus far in 2008-09 and are looking to possibly host the regional come March. Last year BYU-Hawaii fell in the West Region title game in Alaska.

The following is a complete list of the NABC/Division II Coaches Poll with records through Feb. 8. 

1. Findlay, Ohio (20-0)
2. LIU-C.W. Post, N.Y. (18-0)
3. BYU-Hawaii (16-1)
4. Gannon, Pa. (18-2)
5. Southwest Baptist, Mo. (18-3)
6. Northern Kentucky (18-4)
7. Alderson-Broaddus, W.Va. (18-2)
8. Christian Brothers, Tenn. (18-3)
9. Augusta State, Ga. (17-4)
10. Central Oklahoma (19-3)
11. Central Missouri (18-3)
12. Benedict, S.C. (18-2)
13. Southern Indiana (21-4)
14. Georgia College & State (17-2)
15. South Carolina Aiken (16-5)
16. Claflin, S.C. (18-2)
17. Minnesota State (20-5)
18. Bellarmine, Ky. (18-4)
19. Bentley, Mass. (20-4)
20. Armstrong Atlantic State, Ga. (17-4)
21. Virginia Union (16-3)
22. Florida Southern (20-5)
23. Metropolitan State, Colo. (18-3)
24. Southwest Minnesota State (20-5)
25. Western Washington (15-3)

Others receiving votes: Winona State (Minn.) 10, Northern State (S.D.) 9, Delta State (Miss.) 7, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 7, Massachusetts-Lowell 5, Kutztown (Pa.) 4, Grand Valley State (Mich.) 3, Incarnate Word (Texas) 2, Stonehill (Mass.) 2, Angelo State (Texas) 1, Arkansas-Monticello 1.