TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (December 26, 2018) - The No. 7 Salt Lake Community College men's basketball program is part of a rare group of programs in the NJCAA.

The Bruins are part of a respected group of programs that are annually in the conversation to contend for the NJCAA national title, meaning they get invitations to opportunities that are rare and exciting for student-athletes. SLCC will participate in one of those opportunities this weekend as they participate in the Fiesta Bowl Junior College Shootout, hosted by Mesa Community College. 

The tourney, which features some of the top teams in the country, is a double-elimination bracket that features teams playing in both a championship-and-consolation bracket. Teams in the tourney include No. 1 South Plains, meaning Salt Lake has the opportunity to make even more noise on the national scale.

Bruins coach Todd Phillips said he is excited to get the team back together for high-quality competition.

"We are excited to get back after it," he said. "The key to this group is playing together."

Salt Lake will start the tourney with a game on Thursday, with additional games on Friday and Saturday. After the tourney, SLCC starts Scenic West Athletic Conference play on Jan. 5 at NJCAA runner-up Southern Idaho. The next home game for the Bruins will start on Jan. 12 against in-state rival Snow College.