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Family reunion in Ames for Canadian brother basketball players

“I’m here for the Hilton Magic and here to support both boys and both teams,” said their mom.
naz-long

AMES, Iowa (WHO-TV) -- Fans inside Hilton Coliseum may have thought they had tickets to a basketball game on Monday night but for nearly two dozen others it was more like a family reunion.

Naz Mitrou-Long has seen just about everything from opposing defenses in his career at Iowa State University. But Monday night there was one thing the sharpshooter had never seen from a defender at Hilton Coliseum, his brother Eli Long.

Growing up as brothers, Naz and Eli formed a strong bond around basketball, from competing in the backyard to see who could make more baskets all the way to AAU.

Basketball also pushed them away from their Canadian roots but for good reason as both accepted Division I basketball scholarships. Naz chose Iowa State and younger brother Eli chose Mount St. Mary's in Maryland.

“Another one of my dreams come true, it's an amazing feeling,” said the boys’ mother, Georgia Mitrou.

For the Mitrou-Long family in attendance, it's finally come full circle where it should, back on the court as the two teams met in Ames.

“It's surreal and a great thing to see. I never thought of it. When I saw them in the backyard, I had no idea it would come to this level,” said the boys’ father Jersey Long.

And the game doubled as a reunion of sorts.

“My sister came from Edmonton, my niece I haven't seen in maybe a year, so many flew down from the states and from Canada," said Jersey Long.

And what reunion doesn't have family t-shirts. Throughout the night brotherly love was on full display.

"It's going to be amazing. I can't wait to see them guard each other. They are both high competitors so it's something to watch,” said Georgia Mitrou.

While their actions on the court made them proud, like any parent Georgia and Jersey already have the perfect plan to make both of their boys feel loved.

"I'm here for the Hilton Magic and here to support both boys and both teams,” she said.

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