When the American University men’s basketball team punched its ticket to the NCAA tournament for only the fourth time in program history, Bender Arena’s slick hardwood court gave way to something much stickier.

After the home team beat Navy to capture the Patriot League championship on March 12, droves of fans surrounded the home team. Jesse Reed, Kogod/BS ’16, was among them.

The 6-foot-5 former guard drove down from Pittsburgh for the game. He smiled as the AU coaching staff and 17 players took turns cutting down a piece of the net—because 11 years ago this month, he was doing the same thing.

“It’s so fun watching them experience it because you know how good it feels,” said Reed, who led AU in scoring the last time the program made March Madness in 2014. “You know the sense of accomplishment you feel from all the work you put in that culminates in this moment—where you’re cutting down the nets. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime type of feeling.”

Reed was one of about 40 men’s basketball alumni in attendance for the Eagles’ 74–52 win over the Midshipmen. The game was a reunion of sorts for players across generations.

“They’re most tight with the guys they played with during a four-year period, but the bond between them is really cool to see too,” said David Bierwirth, associate athletic director of external relations and sports administrator for men’s basketball. “There’s a definite understanding that, ‘Hey, we all have the same shared experience.’”

As this year’s Eagles squad prepares to face Mount St. Mary’s in a First Four matchup on March 19, alumni players offered reflections on this season and how playing basketball at AU helped shape their life.

Billy Stone, SOC/BA ’86, Kogod/MBA ’89

“I’m so thrilled the school is getting the attention it deserves. Sports is a great front door for any institution, and I think we’re all seeing it. American is a wonderful school, and I think to see this kind of publicity for athletes is great, but it shows everything our school is about.

“I’m in the sports business. I work for CBS Sports, but the greatest impact of my time at AU was the relationships that started there. There’s a saying in sports: It’s 4 for 40, meaning you play for four years and you have 40 years of relationships. I’m so proud that I have great relationships with my former coaches, players, and teammates. Every time I’m with this collection of AU alums, I just feel better.”

Eric White, SOC/BA ’89, who played in the first game at Bender Arena in 1988

“This is a great run for a number of reasons. I think it’ll help with recruiting, and it brings back all the old alumni. I got to see some guys at the championship game that I hadn’t seen in years. I hope we can win because playing Duke will bring a whole bunch of notoriety and shine some light on the university. I’m really rooting for them.”

Brian Gilmore, Kogod/BSBA ’09, who was part of AU’s first two Patriot League championship teams to make the NCAA tournament in 2008 and 2009

“It’s been really special [to watch]. Anytime your program is able to win a conference championship, it’s a big deal. We’ve still got a group chat with a majority of my teammates from 2008–2009. It’s still firing daily, and everyone was really elated to see AU back on the map and in the national spotlight. As my son and I stormed the court on Wednesday night, I even FaceTimed my group chat of teammates, and they all got to watch it up close. They said how much it brought back the memories of [our] court storming and cutting down the nets. It’s a good time to be an Eagle.

“The most valuable part of playing on those AU teams was the relationships and friendships that were made. Our junior and senior year, we really got to see the fruits of that labor, and that made it even more rewarding for those friendships that have lasted 20 years.”