Access to the PacWest men’s basketball championship game remains elusive for Hawaii Hilo.

The Vulcans were denied by top-seeded Point Loma Nazarene in the conference tournament semifinals for the second straight year, 71-65, at Dominican University’s Conlan Center on Friday night.

Guard Zack Paulsen’s 35 points on 12-for-19 shooting swung a competitive contest in favor of the Sea Lions (26-5).

It was the fourth time in five seasons that UHH (19-13) qualified for the six-team tournament under coach Kaniela Aiona. The semifinals are the farthest the Vulcans have gone.

“We’ll keep knocking at the door and I’ll keep saying that until we bust through. But when we do, it’s going to be off the foundation of what guys like these guys have brought to the program,” Aiona said at the PacWest postgame press conference, looking to his seniors, forward Nadjrick Peat and forward Jake Kosakowski on either side of him. “This isn’t all for naught.”

Peat had a 11-point, 13-rebound double-double and Jessiya Villa and Julio Montes II scored 13 points off the bench for the Vulcans.

Hilo beat Concordia-Irvine in the first round Thursday, setting up a meeting with PLNU, which had a bye. All six of UHH’s matchups with PLNU over the last two years have been decided by 10 points or fewer.

“I have a ton of respect for their program. They really challenge us on the offensive end to be creative,” Sea Lions coach Justin Downer said.

Paulsen chalked up his career night to the program’s player development.

“We just couldn’t put it together in the end. Zack had 35. He just went off tonight,” Peat said. “As a team we should’ve done better on him. It happens, but my teammates, they’re so gracious for the chance of being at the conference tournament, being at the semifinals. It’s something as a team, as a program, we got to go back and tighten up on it and prepare for next year, get it together and the Vulcans will be back.”

PLNU faces Academy of Art in Saturday’s championship.

Hawaii Pacific (15-14, 10-10 PWC) and Chaminade (16-11 10-10) were in the mix for a PacWest tournament berth but fell a game short.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.