Taylor to Celebrate 25th Annual Silent Night Basketball Game

Upland, Indiana—Taylor University will mark the 25^th anniversary of the annual Silent Night men’s basketball game on Friday, December 9 at 6 pm in Odle Gymnasium.

Silent Night is a beloved campus tradition, where the fans remain silent until Taylor’s team scores their 10^th point, at which time they flood the court, often dressed in festive costumes. This year, the Trojans will be up against the Miami University-Middleton Thunderhawks. Taylor’s all-time record for Silent Night games is 23-1.

The game evolved out of the Ivanhoe’s Classic, which was hosted as a four-team tournament starting in 1984. The tournament, and eventually the Silent Night game itself, quickly developed into a way for Taylor students to take a break from preparing for final exams. Many students even camp out by the gymnasium doors the day before the game.

“Silent Night is the premiere student event in the country, and we are so thankful and blessed to be able to once again have it for our students,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Kyle Gould. “The spirit and creativity of Taylor’s student body is always on full display and makes this event unique and special each year.”

In the final minutes of the game, all attendees lock arms to sing Silent Night in unison. Afterwards, students will continue the end-of-the-semester celebration with a Christmas party.

Taylor’s Silent Night game is widely regarded as the best atmosphere and richest tradition throughout small college basketball. It garners national media attention each year, with social media creating a global platform for the event. Silent Night has been featured by Sports Illustrated, ESPN, CBS Sports, the IndyStar, CNN, and LA Times.

Silent Night is sponsored by Ivanhoe’s Drive In, a family-owned landmark restaurant near Taylor that’s famous across the country for ice cream sundaes and milkshakes.