WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — Julen Iturbe scored 26 points to lead American to a 78-67 victory over Army in a Patriot League men’s basketball game Sunday at Christl Arena. The Eagles improved to 11-8 overall after building a 33-26 halftime lead and maintaining control throughout the second half. The Black Knights fell to 7-12. Iturbe, a 6-foot-6 guard from Greenville, South Carolina, added five rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 31 minutes. Jacen Holloway led Army with 21 points and four assists. Greg Jones added 16 points for American, and Madden Collins contributed 14 points and eight rebounds. Attendance was 887. American next hosts Colgate on Wednesday, while Army visits Bucknell.

WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — Julen Iturbe scored 26 points and American used a dominant first half to build an insurmountable lead, cruising to a 78-67 victory over Army in a Patriot League men’s basketball game Sunday at Christl Arena. The Eagles, who led by as many as 19 points in the opening period, never trailed and improved to 11-8 overall. The Black Knights fell to 7-12. Iturbe, a 6-foot-6 guard from Greenville, South Carolina, was efficient and explosive, hitting 10 of his 16 field goal attempts, including three from beyond the arc. He added five rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 31 minutes, anchoring an American offense that operated with precision. His performance marked a significant offensive resurgence after scoring a combined 26 points over his previous three games. The game’s decisive stretch came early. After a slow start from both sides, American seized control with a 17-2 run midway through the first half. Iturbe ignited the surge with a 3-pointer, and Greg Jones followed with another. Iturbe then drilled a second three before Jones capped the burst with a third consecutive long ball, pushing the Eagles’ lead to 20-4 with just over 16 minutes remaining in the half. Army struggled to find any offensive rhythm against American’s active defense, committing 10 first-half turnovers and shooting just 7 of 25 from 3-point range for the game. The Black Knights clawed back to within 11 points on several occasions in the second half but could not sustain a run to seriously threaten the Eagles’ lead. Jacen Holloway led Army with 21 points, four rebounds and four assists. Kevin McCarthy added 12 points, all from 3-point range. The Black Knights shot 44.1% from the field but were hampered by American’s superior efficiency; the Eagles posted an offensive rating of 121.9 points per 100 possessions compared to Army’s 102.6. Jones provided crucial support for American with 16 points and six rebounds. Madden Collins contributed a strong all-around game with 14 points, eight rebounds and two assists. Matt Mayock, while scoring only two points, facilitated the offense with five assists and added six rebounds and a block. The most important sequence of the game solidified American’s early command and effectively decided the contest before halftime. With the Eagles leading 7-4, they unleashed their devastating three-point barrage. Iturbe and Jones combined for four 3-pointers in a span of just over three minutes, a blistering display that transformed a competitive opening into a lopsided affair. Army, visibly rattled, compounded its problems with turnovers and rushed shots, allowing American to build a 33-26 halftime advantage that felt far more substantial given the flow of play. American’s ball security and ability to get to the free-throw line were also key factors. The Eagles committed only 12 turnovers and converted 16 of 21 attempts from the charity stripe. Army, by contrast, attempted just nine free throws, making eight. The announced attendance was 887. American next hosts Colgate on Wednesday. Army travels to face Bucknell, also on Wednesday.

Preview: American Eagles at Army Black Knights WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — Two Patriot League men’s basketball teams trending in opposite directions will meet Sunday when the American Eagles visit the Army Black Knights at Christl Arena. American (10-8) enters on an upswing, having won three of its last five games, including a decisive 65-51 victory over service academy rival Navy on Monday. The Eagles’ offense has shown potency, averaging 75.2 points per game during that five-game stretch. Army (7-11), meanwhile, seeks to halt a four-game losing skid, all within conference play. The Black Knights’ defense has struggled during the slump, allowing an average of 85.5 points per game. Their most recent outing was an 82-75 loss at Holy Cross on Wednesday. The matchup will feature two of the league’s top offensive talents. American is led by guard Greg Jones, who is coming off a 23-point performance against Navy and has scored in double figures in five of his last six games. He averages 16.2 points per game in that span. Army will counter with forward Jaxson Bell, who poured in 20 points against Holy Cross. Bell has been a consistent contributor, averaging 13.7 points and 5.2 rebounds over his last six contests. His versatility will be key against an American team that forces 12.8 turnovers per game. The Eagles have found success with balance; in the win over Navy, Wyatt Nausadis added 17 points. Army’s Jackson Furman, who scored 18 points in the Holy Cross loss, provides a secondary scoring option alongside Bell. Historically, the Patriot League series has been tight. This game marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 14 in Washington, D.C. For American, a win would solidify its position in the upper tier of the league standings. For Army, a victory is crucial to stem its recent slide and gain ground in the conference race. Tipoff is set for Sunday afternoon.