Tuesday night marked an important 50-year anniversary in the annals of college basketball. It was on Dec. 8, 1965, that one of the sport's greatest coaches, Bob Knight, earned the first of what would become a record 902 victories.

Army knocked off Worcester Tech on that night in '65, winning at the old United States Military Academy Fieldhouse, 71-62. Knight was 25 at the time. Dick Murray showed out with 19 points to get Army to 1-1 on the season. Before he went on to glory as the coach of three national championship teams at Indiana, Knight's legend began at Army, where it still looms large to this day.

It's because of this that current Black Knights coach Zach Spiker wanted to pay tribute to Knight by wearing a sweater in his honor. The sweater look is something Knight made his own over the years.

And what a cool, appropriate and simple tribute by Spiker.

"It was a way to engage, to honor him as best we could," Spiker told CBS Sports on Tuesday night." "This program is loaded up with pride and tradition, and this was our opportunity to honor our very prestigious history, to honor our past."

Even better tribute? Army got a convincing win on the road against Bryant on Tuesday night, claiming a 77-55 victory to improve to 7-2 on the season. It's Army's fourth straight win, and this is looking like it could be the best team Spiker's had in his seven seasons at West Point.

Spiker sported the sweater to also pay tribute to Knight's former players at Army. He concocted the idea in September, when he traveled to Pinehurst, N.C., to meet up with Knight and more than 30 other former players and assistants who shared the bench with the Hall-of-Famer during his West Point days, which lasted from 1965-1971 as a head coach.

"He was appreciative of the gesture, but also quick to remind me -- you gotta guard them, too," Spiker said of his conversation with Knight back in September.

The two posed for a photo as well, and wouldn't you know it, Knight was wearing a gray sweater.

Zach Spiker, left, with Bob Knight in September at an informal Army hoops meetup. (Photo via Zach Spiker)

Spiker spoke to the military men while there, and so did another certain former member of Knight's teams at Army: Mike Krzyzewski.

"When you first get to West Point, two names jump out at you," Spiker said. "It's the top two winningest coaches of all time. Two of the most successful coaches in college basketball started coaching at West Point. When you step on campus, we feel a little bit of responsibility. We want to honor coach Knight and coach Krzyzewski."

Spiker joins Knight as the only coaches in West Point basketball history to win at least 75 games in their first six seasons. Their also the only coaches in Army history to notch at least 10 victories every season over six straight seasons. 

Army coach Zach Spiker had a simple gesture of donning a sweater to honor Bob Knight on Tuesday. (Army Athletics)