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When you think of college basketball in DC, one of the furthest things on anyone’s mind is the American University Eagles. But — once a year — students don their red, white, and blue apparel inside Bender Arena for the “BIG” game of the season i.e. Phil Bender.
This year’s game is a rematch of last season’s Patriot League championship between the 2008 defending champion Eagles and the Holy Cross Crusaders. Granted, this is no “We Are Georgetown” packed house at the Verizon Center, but it’s as close as AU gets.
AU Men’s Basketball made it to the NCAA tournament for their first taste of March Madness in school history in 2008, followed by a repeat appearance in 2009. They were knocked out in the first round, but if there’s anything that could have and should have been learned it’s that school pride reigns supreme when sports are involved.