Box Score KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After a magical postseason run to the program's first national championship appearance, the Carroll College Fighting Saints met their match. 

The Saints fell 68-48 to Georgetown College on Tuesday in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Championship in Municipal Auditorium. 

"Our guys gave us everything they had," Saints coach Kurt Paulson said. "We represented the state and Carroll College to the best of our ability. I'm so proud of the team." 

Only the scoreboard will show a loss for the Saints. Carroll's inspiring run to the championship game, the first time in the program's 107-year history, added to a rich tradition of basketball success, piling up 29 wins along the way.

During a tournament widely recognized as the most difficult to win in college basketball, in an arena where John Wooden won his first national championship at UCLA, on a court where Scottie Pippen once flew around the hardwood, the Saints added to the story. 

Carroll seniors -- Ife Kalejaiye, Match Burnham, Matt Wyman and Alejandro Santos Piqueras -- will be remembered for the foundation of success they've instilled within Carroll. 

"That group has represented Carroll so well," Paulson said. "They've done everything right on the court, off the court, in the classroom. They just set the tone for these young guys. They're such good role models to look up to. It was just a joy to come in their senior year and coach these guys."

The Saints fell into a 9-2 hole by the first media timeout with 15:47 remaining in the first half. The Saints found clean looks on offense, but their shots didn't fall. Carroll couldn't string scores together in the first 10 minutes. 

Ife Kalejaiye hit the Saints' first jumper with 7:30 left in the first half, knocking down a catch-and-shoot three-pointer. It was one of just five three-pointers made on the night for Carroll, who went 5-for-27 beyond the arc. 

Even then, Carroll couldn't find its rhythm on offense against a Georgetown that looked more like it got lost on the way to the NCAA Division-I tournament.

On the other end, the Tigers willed themselves into the paint, scoring 26 of their 32 first-half points in the key. 

The Saints exhausted every option trying to crack Georgetown on Tuesday, but could only battle evenly with the Tigers in the second half, 33-33. 

"I think we ran out of gas," Paulson said. "We have nine guys that dress out. Our practice numbers are short. Our depth is short. We kind of ran out of gas."

Packing a stellar defense and playing an unselfish brand of basketball, the Saints were recognized as standout performers. Wyman and Burnham were named to the all-tournament team, capping stellar career for the senior stalwarts. 

These Saints will be remembered.