Starting at 10 p.m., crowds gathered at the doors of Chase Gymnasium in anticipation of this year’s Midnight Madness. The doors opened and students, prospective students and parents flooded into the gym which was immediately filled with a sea of red shirts. The event is certainly a highlight of Biola’s University Day weekend, with most of its draw from prospective students; however, the night is a show of school spirit nonetheless.

The theme of this year’s basketball season was inspired by the song “We are the Champions.” It was tailored to Biola’s motto, however: “We are the champions of a biblical worldview.” With the distribution of free shirts to every Biola student on Tuesday at the Biola home volleyball game, the goal is to “drown out the competition in a sea of red.”

After an impressive show by the men’s basketball team, who won a Battle of the Sexes shooting contest 56-38, three Biola students were chosen from a raffle drawing to try and win themselves a new red Toyota Corolla. All were unsuccessful. The opportunity to win the car will continue throughout the season with random opportunities at home basketball games.

XOPOC closed out the night in their usual manner, with a routine deserving nothing less than applause from the crowd.

Gallery • 14 Photos

After storming the court, the entire gym was filled with falling confetti in celebration of the start of another basketball season. Photo by Mike Villa