x
Breaking News
More () »

Taylor hosts iconic 'Silent Night' basketball game

The Trojans hosted their annual "Silent Night" game, one of the great traditions in college basketball.

INDIANAPOLIS — It's the most wonderful night of the year at Taylor University.

The Trojans hosted their annual "Silent Night" game, one of the great traditions in college basketball. 

For the 26th year, Taylor students dressed in costume packed Odle Arena for the game, remaining completely silent until the Trojans scored their 10th point of the night. 

That's when things get a little crazy. 

This year, the Trojans jumped out to a quick start against Great Lakes Christian, scoring five points in the first 50 seconds of the game. Up 7-5 with just over three minutes gone in the game, Gavin Yoon ignited the chaos.

Watch the moment on the Taylor Athletics' broadcast of the game: 

After the ecstatic students returned to the stands to continue the celebration, the Trojans' offense remained anything but silent, racing out to a 49-29 lead at halftime, en route to a 103-65 victory.

Anton Webb led the Trojans with 18 points. Yoon, the 10th-point scorer, finished with 10 points. A total of 12 Taylor players found the scoring column in the win.

The Trojans have now won four straight Silent Night games and improved to 25-1 all-time in the annual event. Taylor topped 100 points for the fourth time in a Silent Night game, reaching the century mark for the first time since 2015. They've scored at least 90 points in seven of the last 11 contests. 

NFL star mesmerized

The mayhem in Odle Arena isn't reserved for the 10th point of the game. 

Hours before the game, students rush into the gym in a free-for-all to grab the best seats. The wild — and at times, dangerous — scene caught the attention of former NFL standout JJ Watt, who created a whole thread on X, formerly known as Twitter, pointing out "highlights" from the rush.

"Guy in the pink bunny suit sent Hamburglar flying over the banana," Watt posted. "Never thought I’d type that sentence in my life." 

For all of the festivities surrounding the game, each year wraps up with a serene moment. 

As the Trojans closed in on 100 points in the final minutes, the students began to sway and sing "Silent Night," only breaking to cheer the 100th point, a free throw by freshman Julian Mitchell with 1:19 remaining. 

Before You Leave, Check This Out