GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The start of the men's basketball season is here as they compete in the annual Crossroads/WHAC Challenge. This year it is hosted by Indiana Wesleyan as the Golden Eagles open their season against #RV Spring Arbor on Thursday, October 31 before ending the week against #3 Indiana Wesleyan on Friday, November 1. The reigning WHAC Tournament Champions look for another year of success.
 
Opponent: #RV Spring Arbor
Location: Marion, Ind. (Luckey Arena)
Date: Thursday, October 31
Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Live Video
Live Stats
 
Opponent: #3 Indiana Wesleyan
Location: Marion, Ind. (Luckey Arena)
Date: Friday, November 1
Time: 5:00 p.m. EST
Live Video
Live Stats
 
Last Season Recap
After a slow start in 2023-24, the Golden Eagles got hot and stayed hot winning 15-games in a row to make it into the NAIA National Tournament before eventually falling to The College of Idaho in the round of 32. It was a season where the Golden Eagles saw themselves become the WHAC Tournament Champions for the first time since 2017 as they took down Madonna 88-73 to win it behind now Senior Mason Brook's 29 points. Losing just one senior from last year, men's basketball returns every other starter and gains a graduate student from Hope in Tanner Wiegerink to round out another solid core of players looking to make another deep run. 
 
WHAC Season Outlook
Madonna was tabbed to finish first in the WHAC Standings for the second straight year in a row with Indiana Tech right behind them in second. Cornerstone was tabbed to finish third in the rankings as Madonna opens the season ranked #21 in the nation with Indiana Tech and Cornerstone #RV. Rochester Christian was tabbed fourth with Lawrence Tech fifth to round out the top five in the conference.
 
Scouting Spring Arbor
Spring Arbor ended the 2023-24 season with an overall record of 15-14 and comes into this season as a receiving votes team tabbed to finish fourth in the Crossroads League. The Golden Eagles got the best of Spring Arbor last year as Mason Brooks and Toby Woolcock led the way with 17 and 15 points. The Cougars returned two of their best players in Gabe Newhof and Travis Gipson. Gabe Newhof is coming off his best collegiate year where he averaged 24.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per-game on his way to a First Team All-League selection. Travis Gipson is also coming off his best collegiate year where he averaged 15.4 points and 5.3 assists per-game on his way to a Second Team All-League selection. Both players have been tabbed to the All-League Preseason team for 2024-25.
 
Scouting Indiana Wesleyan
Indiana Wesleyan finished the 2023-24 season with an overall record of 29-6 losing in the Elite 8. Like most years in the Crossroads, Indiana Wesleyan was tabbed to win the Crossroads League as they come into the season ranked third in the nation. The Wildcats got the best of Cornerstone last year as they beat the Golden Eagles 97-83 in an offensive outburst. Indiana Wesleyan has three All-League Team Selections this year in Griffin Kliewer, Caedmon Bontrager, and Luke Brown as well as a restocked team ready for another shot at a National Championship.
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Jonny Strube
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