KANSAS CITY, Mo. --  For the first time in the program's 107-year history, the Carroll College Fighting Saints men's basketball team will play for a national championship.

Their historic run continues after the Saints (29-7) defeated Lewis-Clark State College in a rubber match on Monday at the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship semifinal, 66-55. 

"I'm very proud," first-year Saints coach Kurt Paulson said. "I thought our guys executed the game plan tremendously."

Carroll will face Georgetown College (Kentucky), which defeated William Carey 94-83 earlier in the evening. 

The victory over Lewis-Clark State (30-7) was the third this season for the Saints. It was a win over LCSC, which was on its own historic run, appearing in its first-ever semifinal. 

The Warriors bettered Carroll during the last meeting in the Frontier Conference postseason championship. 

"We just played them in our conference championship a couple weeks back and then they put it to us pretty good," Paulson said. "It was our guys. They had that in the back of their heads. They wanted a little revenge and they got it and they just played tremendously."

Burnham continued his national excellence. The senior from Spangle, Washington, led all scorers with 27 points and 10 rebounds. He thrived at the free-throw line hitting 20-of-22.

"I thought Match Burnham's free throws and attacking at the hoop were just phenomenal and that was kind of the difference in the game," Paulson said.  
 
Carroll's defensive game plan and execution flustered a talented and deep LCSC team all night. Carroll held the Warriors to just 21 points in the first half.

The Saints put two quick fouls on Lewis-Clark State leading scorer Dana Abe in the first 1:30 of the game, relegating him to the bench. It was a key moment for the Saints. 

Abe finally checked back in with eight minutes remaining in the half, but by then the Saints exerted control of the game. The Warriors had only scored eight points to that point. 

The Warriors made their runs in the second half, cutting the Saints' lead to three points with eight minutes remaining, but the Saints never wavered. 

"The guys always answered when they made the run," Paulson said. 

Burnham delivered the Saints clutch plays, drawing fouls and terrorizing the Warriors' defense. Burnham lived at the free-throw line. 

"It's amazing," Burnham said of going to the first championship game in program history. "This is what we worked for. We've always talked about winning the natty. My last high school game was a state championship. Unfortunately we didn't win that so I'll try to get a little redemption this time. We'll just play hard and do our thing."  

The best defense in the national tournament delivered another sterling performance. The Saints held the Warriors to 34 percent shooting from the field and a dismal 14 percent from the three-point line (3-for-21). Over four games on the national stage, the Saints have allowed 61.3 points. 

Jovan Sljivancanin was the only other Saint in double figures. He scored 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds. 

Matt Wyman finished with nine points and seven rebounds, while Dane Warp added eight points, three assists and two blocks. 

Carroll shot 41 percent from the field and 93 percent from the foul line (25-of-27). 

Carroll on Tuesday will face an athletic, tall, high-scoring Georgetown, almost the antithesis of the Saints. 

"Complete opposite of Carroll College," Paulson said. "It will be contrasting game of different styles and athleticism. It will be a very interesting game." 

HOW TO TRACK THE CHAMPIONSHIP

The game will be broadcast by ESPN 3, which can be viewed online.  

Sports 94.9 will broadcast the game on its FM station and with an online stream. 

A watch party at Bert & Ernies will be available to fans in the Helena-area. Wearing purple will earn fans 10 percent off their bill. 

Live stats will be offered through DakStats' Webcast.