Can you believe it... playing for a national championship baby!!!

By Bob Beavers, Dalton State Sports Media

 
Kansas City, MO – It's great to be a Dalton State Roadrunner. The Roadrunners (31-4) will be the visiting team in tonight's NAIA National Championship Division I Men's Championship at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Westmont, from Santa Barbara CA, will wear their home whites.
 
Tonight's game will tip-off at 8:02 p.m. ET with the broadcast only on ESPN-3 (internet only). The broadcast will begin at 7:57 p.m., immediately following the national anthem. To get ESPN3 to the internet network's website follow the instructions. Remember you will need to identify your internet provider and a code.
 
Optilink internet customers are being provided with a fast link, but customers will need to your account number.
 
The national champions and runner-ups will be presented with awards following the championship game The all-tournament team, tournament MVP, coach of the year, player of the year and other specialty awards will also be presented. Then the winning team WILL be allowed to cut down the nets on each end of the court.
 
Dalton State (31-4) and Westmont are making their first-ever appearance in the national championship final. For the Roadrunners this is the first opportunity for post-season action at any four-year level.
 
This is the 79^th annual NAIA Men's Tournament and there have been 54 different national champions since the tournament began in 1937.
 
This will be the second straight year when two rookie teams were in the title game and the third since 2009. Last year, Vanguard (Calif.) defeated Emmanuel (GA), 70-65.
 
With a win tonight, Dalton State could become the first team playing in its first championship game to win it all since Charleston (SC) did it 1983. The Roadrunners are the third straight No. 6 seed to reach the championship final.
 
Jordan Bowling is Dalton State's points tournament point leader at 16.8 ppg, a tie for 24^th best in the tournament with Westmont's Cory Blau. Other tournament leaders for the Roadrunners are LaDarus Green (10.3 rebounds per game), Sean Tate (3.5 assists per game) and Jamaine Burrey (2.0 steals per contest)