BYU-Hawaii (21-7) trailed Transylvania (23-8) much of the first half, but Akana's first 3-pointer immediately after the break sparked a 12-4 run that put the Seasiders in the lead for good.
The junior guard from Molokai turned 23 yesterday.
"What a perfect birthday present for Akana," Seasiders coach Ken Wagner said. "One I'm sure he will always remember."
BYU-Hawaii meets top-seeded Life of Georgia (33-1) at 10:15 a.m. tomorrow. The game will be televised at 2:15 p.m. on Oceanic Cable channel 31 and will be broadcast live on radio on KGU-AM.
Hawaii Pacific opens tournament play today at 2:15 p.m. against William Carey of Mississippi.
The Seasiders scored only two points in the first six minutes of the game as the Pioneers took control early and led by as many as 11 before the Seasiders rallied to trail, 36-34, at halftime.
Akana's three second-half 3-pointers helped Brigham-Young Hawaii rally and the Seasiders led by more than 10 points the last five minutes of the game.
Ionatana Enosa added 16 points for the BYU-Hawaii, while Chris Bates had 11 and Paulasi Matavao 10.
Transylvania hit 57.1 percent of its shots in the first half but dropped to 41.2 percent in the second.
Vince Bingham led Transylvania with 18 points and Jerome Hoosier had 11.
Men's Division I
Yesterday's results
Point Park 111, Lipscomb 100
Dillard, La. 83, Benedict, S.C. 74
Cent.Washington 61, Incarnate Word, Texas 58
Cumberland, Ky. 71, So.Nazarene, Okla. 50
Life, Ga. 107, Huston-Tillotson, Texas 68
Brigham Young-Hawaii 82, Transylvania 67
Oklahoma Baptist 74, Lindsey Wilson, Ky. 68
Southeastern Oklahoma 90, Carroll, Mont. 53
Today's games
Olivet Nazarene, Ill. (21-12) vs. Findlay, Ohio (26-4), 5 a.m.
Columbia, Mo. (27-7) vs. Azusa Pacific, Calif. (28-7), 6:45 a.m.
The Master's, Calif. (21-10) vs. Birmingham-Southern, Ala. (26-5), 8:30 a.m.
Georgia Southwestern (23-8) vs. Biola, Calif. (27-5), 10:15 a.m.
Claflin, S.C. (24-7) vs. East Central, Okla. (22-5), 12:30 p.m.
William Carrey, Miss. (22-13) vs. Hawaii Pacific (24-3), 2:15 p.m.
Georgetown, Ky. (26-8) vs. Phillips, Okla. (23-8), 4 p.m.
St. Mary's, Tex. (22-6) vs. McKendree, Ill. (26-8), 5:45 p.m.
Second Round
Tomorrow's games
Cumberland, Ky. (29-6) vs. Dillard, La. (20-12), 5 a.m.
Central Washington (17-12) vs. Columbia-Azusa Pacific winner, 6:45 a.m.
SE Oklahoma (27-3) vs. The Master's-Birmingham-Southern winner, 8:30 a.m.
Life (33-1) vs. Brigham Young-Hawaii (21-6), 10:15 a.m.
Point Park (21-7) vs. Claflin-East Central winner, 12:30 p.m.
Georgetown-Phillips winner vs. William Carey-Hawaii Pacific winner, 2:15 p.m.
Oklahoma Baptist (33-3) vs. Georgia Southwestern-Biola winner, 4 p.m.
St. Mary's-McKendree winner vs. Olivet Nazarene-Findlay winner, 5:45 p.m.
BYU-Hawaii 82, Transylvania 67
Transylvania: Hoosier 5-12 0-0 11, Vieth 4-8 1-1 9, Bingham 8-13 0-0 18, Moore 2-6 0-0 4, Kholodov 4-5 1-1 9, Roberts 0-0 0-0 0, Simpson 2-5 0-0 4, Beasley 1-2 0-0 2, Moberly 3-7 0-0 8, Sims 0-0 0-0 0, Burchett 0-1 0-0 0, Crowe 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 30-62 2-2 67.
BYU-Hawaii: Smith 3-4 2-2 7, Alves 1-2 0-0 0, Akana 10-14 1-2 26, Bates 4-8 3-3 11, Matavao 5-10 0-0 10, Fripp 0-0 0-0 0, Boyce 0-1 0-0 0, Knosa 8-15 0-1 16, Barton 3-6 0-0 8, Joyce 0-1 1-2 1, Isom 0-1 0-0 0, Throckmorton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-62 7-10 82.
Halftime--Transylvania 36, BYU-Hawaii 34.
3-point goals--Transylvania 5-21 (Hoosier 1-3, Vieth 0-2, Bingham 2-4, Moore 0-1, Simpson 0-3, Beasley 0-1, Moberly 2-6, Burchett 0-1), BYUH 7-12 (Alves 0-1, Akana 5-6, Boyce 0-1, Barton 2-4). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Transylvania 22 (Moore 5), BYUH 40 (Bates 10). Assists--Transylvania 15 (Hoosier 6), BYUH 22 (Alves 9). Total fouls--Transylvania 15, BYUH 8.