IRVINE, CA --- The bracket has been officially released, and the NAIA's No. 1-ranked Concordia has drawn the No. 2 seed at the 2010 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship, where the Eagles will tip off Thursday (March 18) against William Jewell.

Representing the Heart of America Conference as the conference tournament champion, William Jewell (Mo.) brings in a 22-10 record and, located just 25 minutes away from Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium, should bring a home crowd for the First Round game that begins at 6:15 p.m. CST.

The Eagles captured the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season title with a record of 18-2 and a program-best 28-2 regular-season mark before going 2-1 at the GSAC Postseason Tournament, falling to No. 15 Azusa Pacific by a score of 70-66 in the Final Round Tuesday night.

The contest will mark the second head-to-head meeting for the two teams. Concordia earned a 90-57 victory over the Cardinals in the first game of the 2006-07 campaign, when William Jewell was still competing as a member of NAIA Division II.

Concordia is making its eighth trip to the national tournament, and has gone 16-6 in its first seven appearances, capturing the 2003 national title and finishing as the national runner-up in 2004 and 2006.

Last year, the Eagles played into the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Rocky Mountain (MT), which did not earn a berth in this year's tournament.

The Cardinals' bid to the national tournament was clinched with a 47-46 overtime victory over Lindenwood this Monday (March 8) in the HAAC Conference Tournament Finals.

It's the seventh appearance for William Jewell at the national tournament, and the second time the Cardinals will play at College Basketball's Toughest Tournament, after they went 1-1 in last year's event.

The 32-team field will play 31 games overall, starting with the First Round Wednesday, March 17.

Three other GSAC school have earned a berth in the tournament, with Azusa Pacific drawing the No. 13 seed, Biola drawing No. 6 and Fresno Pacific entering the tournament unseeded against No. 9 Cambellsville (KY).

To view the entire tournament bracket, click here.

To watch live online, click here or go to watchnaia.com.

To follow each game via free audio feed, click here or go to sportsradiokc.com.

Tickets to the tournament can be purchased by clicking here, or by calling (816) 595-8000.