This was Dixie State's sixth game ever as an NCAA Division II school, and it was the first game for the Rebels at home as such a school. Dixie State was ready for the jump to Division II. The basketball team went 11-16 that season, and this game against BYU-Hawaii was a sign of things to come. The Rebels lost by six, 78-72, but this was the beginning of what has become a young, yet stingy rivalry between BYU-Hawaii and Dixie State College.
In just the third meeting between BYU-Hawaii and DSC, the boys from St. George got a win in this series. A two-game series between the two in St. George on Jan. 23 and Jan. 24, 2008: The Seasiders won another close matchup against Dixie State. This time it was by eight points. However, the two teams came out against each other the next day and this time it was Dixie State that got the win. It was a 15-point win and a statement. The next year when DSC would join the PacWest, Seasiders beware because DSC was here to take over the conference.
However, BYU-Hawaii went on to win the next three games against DSC. Was the conference takeover just a myth? A fantasy? The answer was nay.
On Jan. 7, 2010, BYU-Hawaii made its way to Burns Arena in St. George. With BYU-H's star Lucas Alves hobbled by injury this was the perfect opportunity for the Red Storm to take over the conference. DSC got its second win in the series to make the overall record 5-2 in favor of the Seasiders.
When the teams met in Laie, Hawaii, on Feb. 18, 2010, I thought the time to take over the PacWest was then and there. However, it would be halted as the Seasiders knocked off the Red Storm by 17. But for the first time, DSC clinched a share of the PacWest title. And it clinched the title with BYU-H.
But even the conference championship wasn't enough to make this rivalry feel like it was merely a dream on my part. The stage was set: the conference co-champions on the floor together on Jan. 27, 2011, DSC introduces its new mascot Big Dee, and the Utah Jazz Bear was in town to try and excite the crowd. But it wasn't meant to be. The Red Storm suffered their largest margin of defeat against the Seasiders at Burns Arena on that day. An 83-61 win for BYU-Hawaii. I thought it was over. I thought there was no way we could lose by 22 points at home and then go to Hawaii and beat the Seasiders.
The boys proved me wrong. As my friend Mark would say, "Richard, don't be a fair-weather fan."
A little bit of magic? Yes. A double-overtime win 99-96 gave Dixie State its first ever win in Laie. Stunned, elated, stoked. Whatever the word may be. The rivalry was back on.
The two teams met up a month later in the NCAA Division II Tournament: the Regional Final, a.k.a. the Sweet Sixteen. BYU-Hawaii got the win, but it set the stage for the game 16 days ago.
Feb. 4, 2012, it was a game that featured large leads by both teams, but it ended in high drama. With Dixie State leading by one point, the Seasiders had a shot to win the game. BYU-H's Jake Dastrup pulled up for a jump shot to win the game, but it bounced off, giving DSC the win.
So here we are this week. Dixie State clinches at least a share of the conference championship with a win over BYU-Hawaii on Wednesday, and because the Red Storm will have beaten BYU-H twice they will win the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
This actually feels a little unfamiliar even after having won back-to-back PacWest championships. It's the Seasiders who look to play spoiler with the Red Storm trying to secure a spot in March Madness. BYU-Hawaii holds an 8-4 series lead over Dixie State, and it was inches/seconds away from being 9-3. It's a young rivalry, but it's a great rivalry because for the last three years the conference championship has been on the line. It's on the line again for Wednesday's meeting.
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