GARY, Ind. – The first half of the basketball season is just about wrapped up, and the Indiana University Northwest men's basketball team is hosting IU Kokomo Wednesday before getting back to work after Christmas.
 
Monday, Dec. 18
Cancelled – Men's Basketball (JV) at Ancilla
 
Tuesday, Dec. 19
Postponed – Women's Basketball at Grace Christian
 
Wednesday, Dec. 20
3 p.m. – IU Kokomo at Men's Basketball
 
Thursday, Dec. 28
7 p.m. -- Men's Basketball at IU Kokomo
 
Saturday, Dec. 30
3 p.m. – Men's Basketball at Purdue Northwest (Exhibition)
 
Men's Basketball
The RedHawks are stepping out of conference play for the remainder of December as they play a home and home with IU Kokomo before taking the short trip to PNW to close out 2023.
 
This season IUN is 3-3 in nonconference battles and is led by Jalen Houston, who has poured in 19 points per game. Dannie Smith and Anthony Taylor are also in double figures, while Lamarius Lillard has swatted a team-high 10 shots.
 
The Cougars, meanwhile, started the season 8-0 but lost two straight on the road to IU East and IU Southeast before bouncing back against Midway 86-59 last week. Ty Willis is the leading scorer for IUK, while Max Newman averages a double-double at 13.5 points and nearly 12 rebounds per contest.
 
PNW is 7-4 and had won five straight before losing the last two against conference foe Lake Superior State and Midwest Region opponent Illinois Springfield. The Pride is 2-0 this season against non-NCAA D2 foes – beating Calumet St Joseph 85-58 and East-West 132-73.