The University of the Cumberlands (UC) Men's Basketball team may be the champions of the Mid-South Conference (MSC); however, the Patriots are looking ahead to bigger and better things as they prepare to head to Kansas City next week for the NAIA Division I Basketball tournament.  

Finishing the season with an overall record of 20-11, the Patriots shocked many people as the captured the Conference Tournament title last Sunday in Frankfort, Ky. with an upset victory over the Georgetown College Tigers.  The win secured the Patriots opportunity to fight for a national championship. 

The Patriots finished the season receiving votes in the final NAIA poll; however, with a big win last Sunday, they earned the automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament.

The Patriots are set to battle #5 seeded Southern Polytechnic State University, who finished #6 overall in the final polls for the season.  The Hornets, a member of the Southern State Athletic Conference (SSAC) East, finished with a record of 24-6, falling to Belhaven early in the SSAC tournament.  The game between the Patriots and the Hornets is set to tip off on Thursday, March 15 at 11:45 am.  The Tournament runs from March 14 to March 20 in Kansas City.

Other Mid-South Conference teams which will be making an appearance in Kansas City include #8 Lindsey Wilson, #14 Georgetown, and #23 Campbellsville.

For complete NAIA Tournament brackets visit www.naia.org.  Follow the Patriots in their battle for a National title by tuning in locally to WEZJ 104.3 FM or outside of the Cumberlands area on the web at www.cumberlandspatriots.com/live. 

For more information on the men's basketball team and Patriot athletics visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com.