HAYWARD, Calif. — The Saint Martin's Men's Basketball program is moving on to the second round of the NCAA West Regionals, defeating Hawaii Pacific 75-68 in Hayward, California on Friday, March 13.

Despite trailing by upwards of 14 points, the Saints erupted in the second half, shooting 50% from the field and embarking on a massive 13-0 late in the game that tilted the game in favor of Saint Martin's. The victory for Saint Martin's marks the third time in program history that the team has advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Along with the historic postseason run, the Saints have now tied a program record for most ever Division II wins in a season, notching their 26th victory of the season.

How It Happened
First Half

• The Saints and Sharks exchanged baskets back-and-forth to start, before Diego Trejo-Delgado hit a jumper and three-pointer in a tow, giving the Saints a 9-4 lead at the 15:51 media timeout.
• The Saints held a 12-8 lead at the 13:32 mark, before a 7-2 run by HPU put the Sharks up 15-14.
• Both teams exchanged a one-possession lead in the ensuing possessions, as the Saints went into the eight-minute media timeout leading 19-18.
• A 7-0 run out of the timeout by Hawaii Pacific put Saint Martin's behind 25-19 with 5:36 on the clock.
• After the Saints fell behind 27-19, a basket by Diego Trejo-Delgado at the 3:26 mark ended the run.
• Saint Martin's struggled shooting in the first half (29.6%) and went into the halftime break trailing 36-25.

Second Half

• Pablo Navarro scored the opening basket of the second half at the 18:16 mark, sparking a flurry of baskets from both teams.
• Hawaii Pacific pulled ahead 43-29 after an and-one and layup, before Diego Trejo-Delgado recorded an and-one for the Saints at the 15:42 mark.
• A layup by Mark Clegg Jr. at the 13:12 mark capped off an 8-2 run that trimmed the deficit to single digits (49-41).
• A free-throw by Kaden Hansen moved the score to 51-44 Sharks at the 10-minute mark.
• After Patrick Kilfoil hit a three-pointer, a bucket by Kaden Hansen one possession later pulled the Saints within 54-49 with 9:07 to go.
• The run continued, as Mark Clegg Jr. added a free-throw and Patrick Kilfoil and Kaden Hansen hit back-to-back three-pointers to bring the score within 57-56 with 7:12 left in regulation.
• After another stop, the Saints continued the emphatic run with a layup by Diego Trejo-Delgado that put Saint Martin's up 58-57, the team's first lead since 10:49 in the first half.
• Saint Martin's continued to make defensive holds, and followed up with a jumper from Hansen and three-pointer by Dae'Kwon Watson to go up 63-57 with 5:09 on the clock. The 13-0 run for the Saints flipped the script, as the Saints ultimately held the lead through the final whistle.
• The Sharks made a late run and tied the game at 66-66 with 2:08 on the clock.
• Patrick Kilfoil answered with a three-pointer to put Saint Martin's ahead 69-66 with 1:55 to go.
• Hawaii Pacific came within 69-68, but the Saints held the Sharks scoreless for the final 1:39, as a dagger three-pointer by Dae'Kwon Watson put Saint Martin's ahead 72-68 with 49 seconds remaining in regulation.
• Saint Martin's made key stops down the stretch, walking off with a 75-86 victory that saw the team erase a 14-point deficit and out-score Hawaii Pacific 50-32 in the second half.

Top Performers

• Diego Trejo-Delgado led the Saints with 19 points, while adding seven rebounds, two blocks, and one assist.
• Dae'Kwon Watson tallied 18 points and shot 5-8 from three-point range. He added four rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
• Patrick Kilfoil totaled 12 points, six assists, six rebounds, and two steals.
• Kaden Hansen finished with 11 points and added three assists, three rebounds, and two steals.

Team Stat of the Game

• After a poor shooting half in the first, the Saints flipped the script and shot 50% from the field in the second half.
• The Saints last advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round during the 2018-19 season, when the Saints made it to the Sweet 16, the furthest tournament run in program history.

Up Next
The Saints will face Point Loma, who defeated Northwest Nazarene 76-61, in the second round tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, California. The game can be streamed on NCAA.com.