will make Bermuda history.

But that kinship will be put aside for at least a couple of hours when American University and University of Delaware meet at Bermuda College in the first NCAA-sanctioned basketball game ever played here.

Cultural exchanges and a Thanksgiving holiday on a semi-tropical island are nice but these are two teams that simply need a win.

The AU Eagles, under first-year coach Art Perry, have started 0-3 -- and it doesn't get easier: The Eagles will tonight be without two starters, forwards Dave Small and Alex Harris.

Overall, they have just one healthy player with any significant Division I starting experience, although he's a good one. Senior captain Nathan Smith is AU's all-time leading three-point shooter and one of the NCAA's best from long range.

They'll need him and his 21 points-a-game average tonight.

Delaware coach Mike Brey, a former assistant on Mike Krzyzowski's championship Duke teams, has problems of his own. After an opening-day win over Siena, the Blue Hens have dropped three straight.

They return three starters, including one of the American East Conference's best backcourts in Keith Davis and point man Tyrone Perry.

Both teams are young, started the year among the NCAA's top 100, and are looking toward the future.

More so the Eagles. Perry is known as a recruiter, having landed 21 eventual NBA draftees, and lived up to his reputation with high school signings for next year.

Delaware have a combined total of just 15 college seasons among their 12 members but annually play one of the conference's toughest schedules. The winner of the season-ending conference tournament goes directly to the NCAAs and most of what the Blue Hens do now is with a eye towards the end of February.

While March Madness is great, both teams wouldn't mind a little November Nuttiness starting tonight. The Hens and Eagles, who despite their geographic rivalry haven't met in a dozen years, bring contrasting games to the table.

Perry prefers a pressure defence style; Brey has instituted a perimeter game with man-to-man half-court defence.

The teams arrived yesterday afternoon and each put in a two-hour practice last night at Bermuda College. NCAA officials were also flown in especially for the game.

Both coaches are familiar with the Island, having been guests of promoter Freddie Evans' summer basketball camp. Evans, who played at Jackson State, is hoping tonight's sold-out game is the start of an annual event.