WASHINGTON - American University men's basketball fans will get their first look at the 2026-27 Eagles in Bender Arena when AU hosts Howard for an exhibition contest on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. The matchup will be American's only home appearance before the regular-season home opener against Harvard on Nov. 15.
Tickets for the exhibition are on sale now and can be purchased HERE. American and Howard students will receive free admission with a valid student ID.
Parking Information
- Parking on campus is actively monitored seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Fans can buy a season-long parking pass for the Bender Arena Sports Center Garage (through March 10) through the Athletics Ticketing website HERE.
- Parking is available on a per-event basis.
- Event Parking: $10 per contest for games held after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends (available through the PayByPhone app in any garage using code (211950).
- Hourly Parking: Standard hourly garage rates apply from 8 am-10 pm in the Katzen Arts Center and School of International Service garages.
- Find a detailed campus map here.
Bender Bites and The Perch
- The Perch is a special section behind the north basket where fans ages 21 and over can purchase beer, wine and seltzers.
- The concessions area is home to Bender Bites, a partnership with AU Kitchen.
What to Know About American
- American enters the 2026-27 season as the preseason favorite in the Patriot League, and the Eagles return nearly their entire roster from last season, including all players who were not lost to graduation.
- Senior Greg Jones was named the Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and joined sophomore Madden Collins on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
- Collins led American in scoring as a freshman last season at 13.4 points per game while shooting 50.8 percent from the field.
- Jones averaged 12.5 points and 4.8 rebounds last season and earned All-Defensive Team honors for the second straight year.
- American returns its top three scorers from last season in Collins, Jones, and junior Julen Iturbe.
- The Eagles went 16-16 overall and 9-9 in Patriot League play last season, one year after winning the 2025 Patriot League Championship.
- The Eagles went 1-5 in one-possession games in 2025-26.
- Junior Eric Michaels returns to the frontcourt after missing all of last season due to injury.
- Sophomore Kade Sebastian returns after starting 16 games as a freshman, while Iturbe moves back to his natural position at the four after spending significant time at center last season.
- Head coach Duane Simpkins enters his fourth season at American with his entire coaching staff returning for a fourth season as well.
- AU's non-conference schedule features four Power Four opponents and the return of the Capital Thanksgiving Classic at Bender Arena.
What to Know About Howard
- Howard enters the 2026-27 season as the preseason favorite in the MEAC, receiving six first-place votes after sweeping the MEAC regular-season and tournament championships last season.
- The Bison won 24 games in 2025-26, tying the program record for wins in a season, and earned their third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years.
- Howard earned the first NCAA Tournament victory in program history last March, defeating UMBC.
- Senior Cedric Taylor III returns after leading the MEAC with 17.2 points per game last season and earning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and First Team All-MEAC honors.
- Senior guard Cam Gillus also returns after starting all 35 games last season and leading the MEAC with 164 assists.
- Howard finished the 2025-26 season ranked No. 23 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, the program's first appearance in the poll's 27-year history.
- The Bison added 6-foot-10 junior center James Brown, a transfer from North Carolina, to a 2026-27 roster that features eight players listed at 6-foot-5 or taller.
- Head coach Kenneth Blakeney enters his eighth season at Howard after leading the Bison to MEAC Tournament championships in 2023, 2025 and 2026 and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
- Five-time NBA All-Star and former Wizards star John Wall joined Howard's staff in April as President of Basketball Operations.
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