BYUH ices its second PacWest title, 100-68
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
For 19th-ranked Brigham Young-Hawai'i, last night's 100-68 Pacific West Conference basketball victory over Western New Mexico was sweet for many reasons.
For starters, BYUH's victory helped the team clinch its second PacWest title and, perhaps just as exciting, provided the estimated 1,800 spectators free ice cream.
As part of a promotion, Meadow Gold serves free ice cream to everyone inside the Cannon Activities Center when the Seasiders hit the century mark.
"They got ice cream; they're happy," said BYUH junior guard Beau Nobmann, who scored the 100th point on a free throw. "I'm happy we won. Everything is great."
The Seasiders — last season''s PacWest co-champions — won their 17th consecutive home game and improved to 17-3 overall and 11-2 in the PacWest. The Mustangs lost their 12th game in a row and dropped to 3-23 and 1-14.
PacWest Player of the Year Alexus Foyle scored a game-high 36 points and Nobmann tied a school record with 10 steals to lead the BYUH charge.
"We played great basketball this year," Nobmann said. "We won the championship for the league, but we're not stopping at that. We're going further."
BYUH has two regular-season games remaining before playing in the NCAA West Regional Tournament on March 13-15.
Last night, the Seasiders took care of business early and overwhelmed the undermanned Mustangs.
"Everyone played hard and worked together," Foyle said. "We did some good things tonight."
The Mustangs started the game with only six players because sophomore guard Brendon Malone stayed behind to attend a funeral and sophomore forward David Walker did not play due to what officials described as disciplinary reasons.
"They only came with six players so we knew they were going to be tired," Nobmann said. "We just gave it our all, worked the ball around, got some open shots and they went down."
It was Nobmann who grabbed the loudest cheers when he helped the Seasiders reach the 100-point mark. It was the second straight game BYUH reached the 100-point mark.
With BYUH leading 98-68 and the crowd chanting, "ice cream!" Nobmann sank 2 of 4 free throws in the last 3.4 seconds of the game, including the 100th point with 1.7 seconds left.
Nobmann also did it on defense. His 10 steals tied the school record set by Robbie Nielson against Warner Pacific on March 2, 1983.
"I really take pride in my defense," Nobmann said. "I just like to read the passer's eyes, get in to the passing lanes and pick off the passes."
W. New Mexico 28 40— 68
BYU-Hawai'i 42 58—100
Scoring—WNMU: Joey Ramirez 17, Malcolm Connor 16, Matt Enriquez 14, James Newell 12. BYUH: Alexus Foyle 36, Pablo Broering 18, Spencer Lynn 10, Matt Winans 10. Rebounds—WNMU: Connor 12. BYUH: Broering 9. Assists—WNMU: Ramirez 7. BYUH: Shawn Opunui 12.
• HPU 81, Montana State-Billings 79: Leandro Maruoka scored 20 points to lead four teammates in double figures as the Sea Warriors rallied in the second half to beat the Yellowjackets at Mid-Pacific gym.
Marvin Noble scored 16, Nate Block and Aaron Adams had 14 apiece and Nic Walters 10 for HPU, which improved to 17-8 overall and 6-7 in the Pacific West Conference.
Dan Thompson scored 23 and Kyle Stirmlinger 20 for MSUB (16-9, 8-7).
HPU trailed 40-36 at halftime.
MSU-Billings 40 30—70
Hawai'i Pacific 36 45—81
Scoring—MSUB: Dan Thompson 23, Kyle Stirmlinger 20, Cameron Munoz 15. HPU: Leandro Maruoka 20, Marvin Noble 16, Nate Block 14, Aaron Abrams 14, Nic Walters 10. Rebounds—MSUB: Stirmlinger 12. HPU: Maruoka 18. Assists—MSUB: Justin Hassell 3. HPU: Noble 9.
