Ernie Steven’s Basketball Classic

From Nov. 7–9, 2025, Haskell Indian Nations University hosted the Ernie Stevens Classic at the Coffin Complex, where the HINU men’s basketball team welcomed multiple schools for the weekend tournament.Ernie Stevens, acitizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, and Haskell Alumni whose mother was an activist, he stood alongside AIM fighting for his people, and later becoming a Reserve sheriff in Wisconsin, and supported Haskell’s athletics many of times. Having passed earlier this year in September,the tournament became a very special event to take place.

The competition was fierce with many of the games ending within a two-point spread. The first matchup featuredSouthwestern College and Benedictine College. Both teams played strong and pushed their hardest.Southwestern maintained a strong lead throughout the first period and ended with the audience wanting more. The second half got more competitive,and players were really utilizing every tool in their skill set. Southwestern’s team was staying consistent and was ready to fight for possession of the ball each time. Benedictine college’s team was able to push for their points, had heart and weren’t afraid to go for layups in the paint. The ending score being Southwestern 73 / Benedictine 49.

The following afternoon was the University of Saint Mary and Baker University, followed byHaskell and Park College. In Haskell’s game, both teams played strong showing how great they can be. Most of the game having Park led in points. Haskell’s Men’s team did not give up and did not stop playing. Anytime a Park player went up for a shot  a Haskell player was right there ready to contest it immediately and without hesitation. Haskell’s team had to have every player working cohesively as Parks’ team was running plays tightly and executing any chance they got. Haskell’s offense was very strong in clawing for every point as the game progressed. Park had stayed around a 10  point lead on the home team for most of the game going into the second period and as the 2nd period progressed Park college was losing their lead as Haskell was slowly gaining points and bringing the points to a closer spread. Towards the last 6 minutes of the second quarter Haskell kicked it up a gear and was making point after point with 3 pointers and well communicated passes. Towards the last few minutes of the game was where the fundamentals were really important as the shooting fouls were becoming more and more abundant and every shot missed was becoming more important. The coaches really needed to use the timeouts on both teams as the environment on the court was changing faster as the time started to wind down and the audience on both teams were getting more anxious seeing the scores getting closer to each other. 

#5 Jesse White,North Dakota and citizen of the MHA Nation,  played with heart every time he got the ball as well as helping with making key shots for the team and pressing the other teams offense as much as possible and helped set the pace for the rest of the game and in the final seconds of the game being 78 to 78 Park fouled Nehemiah Boykins, Oklahoma Creek and Cherokee. The mistake was late and was grave as he had a shooting foul which meant gave him two free throws and with Boykins sinking both shots cleanly it put Haskell up two points ahead of park college. With under a second left on the clock. Park did not waste time in developing a plan to hopefully pull the game back into their favor but couldn’t make it  happen in time with the hail marry attempt from half court. Leading to Haskell’s victory in the end by 2 points. With that being said the little things are what really kept the game close and is what kept making the difference for the game. 

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