WASHINGTON - The 2024-25 season unofficially begins for American University men's basketball with a charity exhibition game against Howard at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28 in Bender Arena. The Eagles are welcoming civic engagement powerhouses The Team and HeadCount to help fans make a plan to vote as Election Day nears.

Tickets for the exhibition against Howard are $10 online, and will be $5 at the box office with valid proof of voter registration. Monday's game will have concessions available through Gregorio's Trattoria, and both the pep band and cheer and dance teams will be on hand to usher in a new season of AU basketball.

The Team is a nonprofit organization that creates award-winning programming focused on integrating nonpartisan civic engagement and voter participation into college athletics. The Team offers pathways for every athlete, coach, and administrator to become more engaged citizens. HeadCount is a non-partisan non-profit organization that harnesses the power of music, culture and digital media to register voters and inspire participation in democracy.

Both organizations will have volunteers on hand to help fans check their registration status, polling location, and more. While the voting registration deadlines have passed, there is still plenty of time to be sure your vote will be counted. Get help requesting your ballot, finding your polling place, or more by texting TEAM to 57568.

American is under the direction of second-year head coach Duane Simpkins, and the Eagles look to build on his successful first season that saw them finish in a tie for second place in the Patriot League despite being plagued by injuries for most of the conference season. AU has been picked to finish second in the Patriot League, but before the Eagles embark on a competitive League season, they'll play some high-profile non-conference games in preparation. Among those games are home contests against Harvard and George Washington, away games at North Carolina, Virginia, High Point and La Salle, and a three-game swing in San Juan at the Puerto Rico Clasico.

For the latest on American University Men's Basketball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on X (formerly Twitter) (@AU_MBasketball), Facebook (/AU.MBasketball) and Instagram (@au_mbasketball).