SEATTLE (Mar. 4) ­Seattle Pacific University is pitted against a like-minded opponent in the first round of the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament.

The Falcons (18-9) were awarded the No. 4 seed and will face Arizona's Grand Canyon (20-7) at the West Regional at 5:30 p.m. Friday (Mar. 9) in Arcata, Calif. Humboldt State is hosting the tournament for the first time.

This is the 17th time that Seattle Pacific, the defending regional champion, has made the playoffs. Jeff Hironaka guided the team to a share of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship for the second year in a row.

Last season SPU advanced to the national semifinal stage for the second time in seven years.

Grand Canyon claimed the Pacific West Conference crown by wining its last nine in a row.

"They're athletic and they love to shoot the three," said Hironaka of the Antelopes. "But I'm sure they're aware of our ability to shoot from the perimeter." Both teams average approximately nine treys made per game.

"With one exception, we've played fairly well down the stretch, winning the games we needed to, including our last three on the road," Hironaka said. "I think that helps us mentally."

The Falcons were once conference rivals of Phoenix-based Canyon, but the programs have not met in 13 years.

Humboldt's 1400-seat East Gym will be filling to capacity during the SPU game. Immediately afterward, the host Lumberjacks (23-4) play Alaska Anchorage (19-8).

The men's host team has been eliminated prior to the West championship game three of the last four years. Seattle Pacific has won a regional crown three times ('65, '00, and '06), all at home. The Falcons did win their last two games at Arcata, defeating Humboldt State each of the last two seasons. The Lumberjacks left the GNAC following last season to join the CCAA.

Games begin at approximately 12:30 Friday with No. 3 Cal Poly Pomona (20-7) vs. Seattle University (19-8), followed by No. 2 seed Cal State San Bernardino (22-5) and BYU Hawaii (20-7) at 2:30.

The Falcons are 5-2 against other teams in the regional, beating Cal Poly Pomona, BYU Hawaii, and Alaska Anchorage (twice), splitting with Seattle U. and losing at San Bernardino.