BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The field and schedule are set for the third annual Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational. Created in 2021 through a generous gift from Greg and Coe Gardner, the annual tournament will see the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team welcome Ohio Wesleyan University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and the University of Wisconsin-Stout to the Shirk Center Friday-Saturday, Nov. 10-11.

Mary Hardin-Baylor and UW-Stout will tangle in the first game of the tournament Friday night, Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. IWU and OWU will then square off following the weekend opener. The consolation final is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, with the championship game scheduled for 5 p.m. 

To view IWU's full 2023-24 schedule, click here.

The Creation of the Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational
Greg and Coe Gardner, who both graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in 1960, began sponsoring the four-team invitational through a generous gift in 2021. After earning his MBA from Bradley, Greg returned to IWU in 1965 as an accounting professor, where he later had Jack Sikma as a student. Greg also served as Illinois Wesleyan's Faculty Athletic Representative from 1967 to 1986 for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. 

After several years of hosting accounting seniors at their home for an end of year party, Greg and Coe moved to Arizona. The relationship between the Gardner's and Sikma extended far past his collegiate days, as Greg, Coe, and the NBA all-star would often get together for dinner when Sikma's squad played in Phoenix. 

A seven-time National Basketball Association all-star and Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame member, Sikma is the school's all-time leading scorer (2,272 points) and rebounder (1,405). In each of his last three seasons, the Titans won College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championships and advanced to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament in Kansas City.