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CARTERVILLE, IL (WSIL) -- The John A. Logan men's basketball team is back in Southern Illinois and let's hope they had some extra room on the bus, because they are bringing some hardware back with them. 

The NJCAA Division one national champions returned to Carterville in style on Sunday. They received a police escort all the way down Rt. 13 and into John A. Logan College's campus. 

Fans gathered in the parking lot to greet the team upon their arrival and congratulate them on the victory. 

Lots of pictures were taken with the team's new trophy, and players were even signing some t-shirts. 

Players and first-year head coach, Tyler Smithpeters reacted to the community support they received the past week.

"It still hasn't hit me yet, but it feels wonderful man doing it for the school, doing it for the first time ever for the community, it feels good. Driving back in here and seeing all the fans and just showing us the support, it feels great man. It still, like I said it still hasn't hit me yet but I'm sure it will sometime today," said Sophomore Guard Curt Lewis, who led the team with 18 points in the win.

Coach Smithpeters added, "It's fun, the biggest thing is, our guys deserve it. They worked hard for it and like I said, if there is anybody that believed we could win a national championship at the beginning of the year, in June and July, it was these guys and us and we were able to do that."

The celebrations are not done yet. John A. Logan College is planning on having a reception to honor the team next week. We will pass along more details when we get them.