LA JOLLA, Calif. -- No. 4 Hawai'i Pacific University used a 22-6 run to erase a 16-point second half deficit, but couldn't hold off upset-minded Chico State (Calif.) as the Wildcats downed the Sharks 77-74 in the 2017 NCAA Division II Men's West Region Semifinals at RIMAC Arena.
 
The Sharks (29-3) end one of the best seasons in school history. Chico State (25-7) advances to the regional championship game on Monday night against top seed and host UC San Diego who beat California Baptist 84-80.
 
"This is a special team," said HPU head coach Darren Vorderbruegge. "We have six seniors and made a lot of history this season. It's a tough way to go out."
 
Senior guard Chauncey Orr of Bowling Green, Ohio/Bowling Green led all scorers with 31 points to go with six rebounds and four steals for the Sharks. It was Orr's third 30-point game of the season. Senior guard Connor Looney of Palmer, Alaska/Palmer added 12 points with three steals, while senior forward Elliott DeFreitas of Essex, England/County Upper scored 11 points and posted a game-high seven rebounds.
 
Chico State was paced by Corey Silverstrom with 17 points and Jalen McFerren with 16 points and seven boards. Michael Bethea Jr. added 13 points and Robert Duncan 11 for the Wildcats.
 
The Sharks shot an uncharacteristic 41 percent from the floor (26-64) and hit just 6-of-22 from the 3-point arc (27 percent). HPU was 16-of-19 from the free throw line. Chico State connected on 53 percent from the field (26-of-49), including 12-of-24 from the arc (50 percent). The Wildcats were 13-of-19 from the foul line (68 percent).
 
The Sharks were outrebounded 37-29, but stayed in the game by suffering only 12 turnover to the Cats 23.
 
HPU trailed 65-50 to the Wildcats with 9:13 to play when Orr got a layup that started the run. It ended when Looney hit a pair of free throws with 2:38 to play that gave the Sharks their final lead.
 
But consecutive turnovers by the Sharks allowed the Wildcats to gain the momentum back and close the game on a final 6-2 run.
 
"We made our adjustments, got our energy and made a heckuva run," said Vorderbruegge. "I thought when we took the lead we were back in it, had a lot of momentum going and was just not able to finish down the stretch."
 
The game was an exciting one, with nine lead changes and eight ties.
 
The teams battled through the first half neck and neck, with HPU getting a 30-29 advantage with 2:44 to go in the opening frame on a pair of Orr free throws.
 
But the Wildcats answered with a pair of free throws and later a pair of 3-pointers by Bethea to retake the lead and key a 10-0 run to lead 39-30 at the half.
 
Chico State opened the second half with a 14-7 run to build a 16-point lead at 53-37 a little more than four minutes into the half. While HPU chipped a bit at that advantage, it was back to 16 at 62-46 with 11:44 to play.
 
After cutting the lead to 12 and having McFerren hitting a 3 to put Chico back up by 15, HPU knew it was time.
 
Orr started it with a layup, and Looney followed with a pair of free throws. Then Orr when layup, steal, layup and kick started the run. Looney's 3-pointer with 6:26 to play brought HPU back to within six at 69-63. A free throw by Isaiah Ellis put the Wildcats back up by seven, when HPU made a final push.
 
DeFreitas got a layup, followed by a free throw from Martin for a 70-66 lead. The Sharks allowed a Wildcat free throw, but answered with a DeFreitas layup, an Orr layup after a forced turnover and got the two free throws from Looney to take their final lead at 72-71 with 2:38 to play.
 
HPU forced another turnover on a Looney steal, but on the subsequent play, Looney was called for a charge as he dropped the ball through the hoop with 2:07 to go. The offensive foul wiped out the bucket and following a Chico timeout, saw Duncan slip through the Sharks for a layup with 1:48 to play and give the Wildcats the lead for good at 73-72.
 
The Silverstrom picked the pocket of Martin and took it in for another layup to give the Cats a 75-72 advantage with 31 seconds left. But after missing another shot, HPU had to foul and Chico State had just enough to hang on, building a 77-72 lead before Orr's layup with 0.8 seconds to play for the final 77-74 tally.
 
The Sharks had many school records this season, winning the PacWest Conference Regular Season for the first time and winning the conference tournament for the first time. HPU also won its first NCAA Division II Tournament game and set the new record with only three losses for the season.