The timing was right for the Salt Lake Community College men’s basketball team.

For the first time, the NJCAA Basketball National Championships have added at-large berths into the tournament, and the No. 5-ranked Bruins (28-4, 14-1 SWAC) fit the bill. Salt Lake is the No. 11 seed and will face the Region 2 Champion and No. 22 seed Eastern Oklahoma State College (19-15) at 11 a.m. in the opening round on March 19.

The National Tournament takes place from March 18-23 in Hutchinson, Kan.

SLCC, Scenic West and Region 18 champions, needed the at-large bid after losing to Region I Champion Central Arizona College (28-4) in the District I Championship on Saturday.

The Bruins return for the first time since they won the national championship in 2009.