US President Barack Obama, America’s basketball fan-in-chief, treated British Prime Minister David Cameron to a break from business on Tuesday night, bagging some courtside seats at the US college basketball championships in Ohio.

Obama and Cameron watched a game in Dayton between Mississippi Valley State University and Western Kentucky University. The White House said the trip during Cameron’s three day visit, shows the special relationship between the two key allies. At half-time, the two leaders walked on to the court for an interview with truTV.

U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron talk
at a first round "First Four" game of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball
Tournament between Mississippi Valley State and Western Kentucky at the
University of Dayton Arena in Ohio, March 13, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

Barack Obama said, "I got to say both teams are shooting terribly, It may be nerves. These are not teams that normally end up coming to the tournament."

David Cameron said, "Very first time in a basketball game, I am enjoying it, it’s pretty fast and furious, hard to follow sometimes exactly who’s done what’s wrong, he is giving me some tips. He’s going to help me fill out my bracket; he is going to teach me cricket, yes."

U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron talk
at a first round "First Four" game of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball
Tournament between Mississippi Valley State and Western Kentucky at the
University of Dayton Arena in Ohio, March 13, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

The Ohio visit also carried a touch of domestic politics. Ohio is a battleground state in the November election, crucial to Obama’s hopes of securing a second term in the White House. And Cameron’s visit will be about much more than fun and games. High on the leaders’ agenda are discussions over the war in Afghanistan, the Iran nuclear standoff, violence in Syria and the global economy.

While Obama welcomed Cameron with basketball, first Lady Michelle Obama and Mrs. Cameron joined Olympians and Paralympians in a mini-Olympic competition in Washington D.C.