MONMOUTH, Ore. - "MVP, MVP, MVP", the WOU student section yelled.
 
Behind senior forward Andy Avgi, the Most Outstanding Player of the regional, Western Oregon punched its ticket to the Elite Eight in Frisco, Texas, after the top-seeded and third-ranked Wolves captured the West Region championship with a 60-55 victory over UC San Diego in front of a boisterous crowd at the New P.E. Building.
 
Western Oregon (30-3) earned its first Elite Eight appearance in program history by beating a very talented UCSD (24-8) squad for the second time this year. In doing so, the Wolves continued its momentous season by pulling even with the school record set by the 1981-82 club with 30 victories.
 
WOU's opponent is yet to be determined, with the remaining seven regions playing their respective championship games on Tuesday night.
 
Avgi collected Most Outstanding Player honors piling up a game-high 25 points. Senior guard Julian Nichols netted All-Tournament accolades with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Seniors Jordan Wiley and Devon Alexander chipped in with seven points each while sophomore Tanner Omlid sealed the victory blocking a 3-point try with five seconds left in regulation.
 
The balance displayed against UCSD in the first half allowed the Wolves to open a nine-point lead at the 10:38-mark of the first half after an Omlid layup. The Tritons whittled away to pull even at twice late in the half before thinking they took the lead late with a Drew Dyer 3-pointer before the buzzer. After official review, Dyer's shot was deemed after the halftime buzzer to keep the game tied at 24-24.
 
WOU shot well below their season average with 32 percent shooting from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, but supplemented points from the foul line hitting seven of eight tries. The 7-0 advantage in points off turnovers was more status quo for the Wolves.
 
As efficient as Western Oregon was – the Wolves had no turnovers, none, zilch, zero to set a new Great Northwest Athletic Conference record – UC San Diego never let WOU rest easy. The Tritons nailed all 14 free throws on the night, 11 in the second, coming up with big stops to quell any run the home club started.
 
Speaking of records, the teams combined for a 33-of-34 performance from the foul line. The .971 combined free-throw percentage set a new single-game NCAA record, besting the mark set on Feb. 2, 1983 in a contest between Hartford and Bentley (Mass.).
 
The most revealing statistic to show the evenness of the game, each team scored 28 points inside the painted area.
 
With 2:07 left in the second half, the teams were tied for the ninth time in the contest, 52-52. That's when Avgi flexed his muscle to lead WOU to a definitive 6-0 run. From the top of the key, the GNAC and West Region Player of the Year kicked to the corner to find Nichols open for a triple. Despite hitting just one of his previous 10 shots, the guard calmly knocked down the coffin corner attempt. UCSD turned over the ball on the next possession and WOU called time.
 
Head coach Jim Shaw drew up a play that he had never called the season, and it worked to perfection. Avgi slipped off his defender to find an opening right underneath the basket. A crisp pass from Nichols on the baseline found the big man who laid it in and drew a big foul for the old-fashioned 3-point play.
 
Dyer hit his final collegiate shot, a 3-pointer, to pull UCSD back within three. Wiley missed his chance to ice the game away from deep, giving the Tritons a final chance. With 10 seconds on the clock and coming out of a time out, Anthony Ballestero dribbled to the corner to launch a triple. Omlid came over on the help defense and blocked the try. The rebound fell into Wiley's hands. UCSD chose to foul and Wiley hit both charity shots to seal the win.
 
Next stop for Western Oregon, the Dr. Pepper Arena for the Elite Eight.

2016 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball West Regional All-Tournament Team
Andy Avgi, Western Oregon - Most Outstanding Player
Julian Nichols, Western Oregon
Drew Dyer, UC San Diego
Adam Klie, UC San Diego
Gelaun Wheelwright, California Baptist