BYUH to host regional Brigham Young-Hawaii will host the NCAA Division II men's basketball regional tournament this weekend, beginning Friday against Cal State Bakersfield at 8:30 p.m. at the Cannon Events Center in Laie.
Star-Bulletin wire services
The Seasiders (19-8) are the top seed in the eight team affair, and have won 19 straight games at home for the fourth longest active streak in the nation.
BYUH coach Ken Wagner acknowledges that playing at home will be an advantage, but it won't automatically put them in the elite eight.
"We have to feel pretty good playing here," Wagner said. "Our three losses have all come on the road, but unfortunately our gym seems to bring out the best in everyone when they see the soft floors and big crowds."
The Seasiders won't be alone in representing the Pacific West Conference, as Hawaii-Hilo (18-9) earned an at-large bid and will play third seed Humboldt State (22-5) at noon.
Other teams making the trip to Laie will be second seed Cal State San Bernardino (21-6) against No. 7 Sonoma State (18-9) in the first round along with fourth seed Cal Poly Pomona (20-7) taking on fifth seed Alaska-Fairbanks (20-7). Hilo got the sixth seed and will have the tough assignment of playing third seed Humboldt State (22-5) in the first round.
Hosting may be the second most important news coming out of Laie.
Seasiders center Scott Salisbury has been cleared to play beginning Friday after missing the Seasiders last seven games with a fractured larynx. He was averaging 15.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game before he went down.
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