WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — Navy controlled its rivalry game against Army from the start, earning an 81-63 men’s basketball victory Saturday at Christl Arena. The Midshipmen built a 16-point halftime lead and maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the second half. Austin Benigni led all scorers with 27 points for Navy, while Aidan Kehoe added 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jaxson Bell paced Army with 17 points. Navy shot 47.7% from the field and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 32 of 40 attempts. Army struggled offensively, shooting 37.7% overall and 10 for 34 from 3-point range. The Midshipmen improved to 23-6, while the Black Knights fell to 11-18.

WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a commanding performance that underscored their dominance in the Patriot League this season, the Navy men’s basketball team delivered a decisive 81-63 victory over archrival Army on Saturday at a sold-out Christl Arena. The Midshipmen, now 23-6 overall and riding a five-game winning streak, seized control from the opening tip and never trailed, methodically dismantling the Black Knights before an announced crowd of 3,968. The win completed a regular-season sweep for Navy, which had defeated Army by 28 points in Annapolis just four weeks prior. The most critical phase of the contest was its outset. Navy established an immediate and overwhelming tone, leveraging stifling defense and efficient offense to build a double-digit lead before the first media timeout. Army, struggling to find any offensive rhythm against Navy’s active defense, managed just three points in the game’s first four minutes. A Ryan Curry three-pointer provided the Black Knights’ only early points as they opened the game missing five of their first six shots and committing two quick turnovers. Navy capitalized ruthlessly. Austin Benigni converted a jumper off an Army turnover, and after another Black Knights giveaway, Jordan Pennick drew a foul and hit two free throws. When Jinwoo Kim sank a three-pointer off a Benigni assist with 16:33 left in the half, Navy led 10-3, forcing Army into constant catch-up mode. The Black Knights never got closer than five points the rest of the way. This early blitz set the trajectory for the entire game, as Navy’s defensive pressure and ability to convert Army’s mistakes into points proved insurmountable. The Midshipmen’s offensive execution was a model of efficiency. They scored 81 points on just 64 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 126.6, by excelling at the free throw line and from beyond the arc. Navy shot 32 of 40 from the charity stripe and connected on 7 of 15 three-point attempts. In contrast, Army was hampered by poor shooting, making only 20 of 53 field goals and 10 of 34 from three-point range. The Black Knights also committed 12 turnovers, which Navy converted into 17 points. Navy’s star forward Aidan Kehoe was the game’s most impactful player, recording a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while adding three assists and four blocked shots in 34 minutes. His defensive presence in the paint altered numerous Army attempts and anchored Navy’s overall defensive effort. Guard Austin Benigni led all scorers with 27 points, consistently breaking down the Army defense. He was a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line and added three assists. Jinwoo Kim contributed 13 points and seven rebounds, while Donovan Draper provided 10 points, six rebounds and four assists off the bench. Army, which fell to 11-18, was led by Jaxson Bell’s 17 points and five rebounds. Ryan Curry added eight points but was harassed into four turnovers. The Black Knights showed brief signs of life in the second half, cutting a 16-point halftime deficit to 11 on several occasions, but could not sustain a run. Each time Army threatened, Navy answered, often with a Benigni drive or a Kehoe finish inside. The Midshipmen’s defense was particularly effective in limiting Army’s transition game, allowing only one fastbreak point while generating 11 of their own. Navy also won the battle of the benches, outscoring Army’s reserves 20-8. With the victory, Navy solidified its position atop the Patriot League standings and continued its best season in recent memory. The Midshipmen have now won 12 of their last 13 games. Army, meanwhile, saw its two-game winning streak snapped and will look to regroup in its final regular-season contests. According to pregame analytics from National Statistical, Navy was projected with an 82.2% probability to win. The Midshipmen also covered the pregame spread of 9.5 points. The total score of 144 surpassed the over/under line of 137.5. Navy next travels to face Loyola Maryland on Wednesday. Army will host Bucknell the same evening.

WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — A surging Navy men’s basketball team, riding a nine-game winning streak, visits rival Army on Saturday at Christl Arena in a Patriot League matchup defined by contrasting fortunes. The Midshipmen (22-6, 12-1 Patriot) have been the class of the conference, boasting the league’s best record and a dominant 84-56 victory over the Black Knights just four weeks ago in Annapolis. Army (11-17, 5-8), meanwhile, has struggled for consistency but is coming off an 87-77 road win at Loyola Maryland. Navy’s engine is dynamic guard Austin Benigni, who torched Army for 19 points and six assists in the January meeting. He is averaging 17.4 points and 4.6 assists over the last eight games, including a 25-point, seven-assist performance in Wednesday’s 72-49 rout of Lehigh. Army will counter with guard Ryan Curry, who scored 15 points in the first matchup and is coming off a 17-point outing at Loyola. His backcourt mate, Jacen Holloway, also had 17 points in that win, providing a needed scoring lift. The game represents a stark reversal from recent seasons in the rivalry. Navy’s streak is its longest in over two decades, fueled by a defense allowing just 60.8 points per game during the run. Army, which has lost eight of its last twelve, will need a significant defensive improvement after allowing Navy to shoot 54.7% from the field in the prior meeting. A raucous sellout crowd is expected at West Point, where Army will aim to salvage a season split and play spoiler to Navy’s title aspirations. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 21. The Midshipmen, currently atop the Patriot League standings, visit Loyola Maryland next Wednesday. Army hosts Bucknell on the same night.