College basketball players are always privileged to play in the NCAA tournament.

Weedsport native Adam Sweet got that honor March 6, as the R.I.T. men's basketball team played its first Division III NCAA tournament game since 2000.

The Tigers lost that game, 83-71 to Salem State, but the experience was one Sweet and his teammates won't soon forget.

“Only the top 60 teams in the nation are accepted into that tournament,” Sweet said. “So it was a really big deal for us to get there. It was a big thing for R.I.T.”

To earn an automatic berth, R.I.T. had to defeat Nazareth in overtime in the Empire 8 Tournament championship game.

“At the (Empire 8) championship I played against a few players that I have played against my whole life in AAU,” Sweet said. “We have a friendly rivalry and it was nice to get to take that on the court again. Before the game we share some high fives and some laughs, then we hang out a little after the game too, so it's all friendly and it's nice to get to play on the court with people you have known for a long time.”

In addition to being named the Empire 8 Athlete of the Week during the season, Sweet, a team captain, started 27 of 28 games, scoring 7.9 points per contest. He also shot 37 percent from the floor and converted on 38 3-pointers.

Playing basketball throughout his childhood, Sweet said he's had quite a few memorable experiences on the court, from his younger days playing CCYO to currently playing for one of the top teams in Division III. “It's a big accomplishment,” Sweet said. “We are a young team also, so I can't wait to see how far we can go next season.”

Sweet gives a lot of credit to his parents, who are devoted basketball fans and encouraged him throughout the years.

“My dad coached CCYO and both of my parents have seen every game of my college career,” Sweet said. “It has been so nice for my parents to be able to watch me play. They go to all of them no matter where they are and that means so much to me.”