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          Inside student sections: Taylor University and Silent Night

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          Taylor University's 'Silent Night' tradition continues (1:29)

          Since 1997, Taylor University students have remained quiet in the stands until the 10th point is scored. On Friday the tradition did not disappoint. (1:29)

          • ESPN.com
          Feb 19, 2019, 10:04 PM

          There's a holiday tradition in college basketball you may not know of, deep in the heart of the Crossroads League, a Division II NAIA athletic conference with 10 member schools of private Christian colleges in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.

          It belongs to tiny Taylor University, a school with about 3,000 students, a school with a basketball program that counts Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann, Akron head coach John Groce and Butler assistant coach Jeff Meyer as alumni.

          If you're a fan of the Christmas holidays, of good basketball cheer and better school spirit, there's no better place to be than Upton, Indiana, for the Trojans' famous "Silent Night" game.

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          0:24
          Taylor University stays perfect on 'Silent Night'

          The Taylor University men's basketball team extended its perfect record to 19-0 in Silent Night games with a 100-50 victory over Ohio Chillicothe.

          What's 'Silent Night?'

          So what exactly is "Silent Night?" Well, perhaps obviously, the title of the game is taken from the popular Christmas song, and the game opens and closes around it. Students sing the song to open the game, and sing it in unison to close it.

          When the game starts, fans remain dead silent until the Trojans score their 10th point. When the ball goes through the net, the entire stadium erupts in cheers and screams. Fans dress up in costume (we've spotted Teletubbies, various animals, pizza slices, Richard Simmons, Mario and Luigi and Bobby Knight over the years) or in pajamas -- a tradition dating back to the 1980s.

          The game occurs the Friday before finals week commences, and at the end of the game, students attend a Christmas party on campus.

          • Celebrating the 10th point at the Silent Night game dates back to 1997

          • The Trojans have lost just once in this game, and are 21-1 all-time. That loss was to Grace Christian on Dec. 12, 2018.

          • Taylor is always charged with an automatic timeout immediately after scoring the 10th point -- yay! No technical!

          • Standing room only here, folks, and no advanced tickets are available.

          • That university-hosted Christmas party features Santa Claus, gingerbread house contests and stories.