Nov. 12, 2008

It's official. The George Mason men's basketball team has achieved legendary status.

The Patriots were victors in an online voting contest this fall and as a result, the 2006 Final Four team will be included in EA Sports' NCAA Basketball 2009 video game, which will be released on Monday. It is available on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Playstation 2.

Mason will be one of 64 teams included in the ESPN Classic Tournament of Legends. The tournament will let fans compete as any one of the 64 teams, attempting to win the bracket.

An image from EA Sports' NCAA Basketball 2009 which has the 2006 George Mason men's basketball team as one of its legendary teams.

Blue Ribbon, ESPN and EA developers chose the best Cinderella teams of all time and they ran a fan contest online. The Patriots beat out Davidson (2008), Kent State (2002), Gonzaga (1999) and Princeton (1989).

The 2008 Patriots team will begin play on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Vermont. Mason's home opener is Monday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. against Brown.