EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — Navy’s defense stifled Lafayette in a 65-50 men’s basketball victory Wednesday night at Kirby Sports Center. The Midshipmen held the Leopards to 36.5% shooting from the floor and forced 13 turnovers, which they converted into 18 points. Navy also dominated inside, outscoring Lafayette 44-22 in the paint. Donovan Draper led Navy with 17 points, while Aidan Kehoe added 16 points and seven assists. Austin Benigni also scored 16 for the Midshipmen, who improved to 18-6 overall. Caleb Williams scored 13 points for Lafayette, which fell to 7-16. The Leopards shot just 6 for 30 from three-point range. A crowd of 1,306 watched as Navy never trailed, building a double-digit lead by halftime and maintaining control throughout the second half.

EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — The Navy men’s basketball team tightened its grip on Patriot League supremacy Wednesday night with a methodical 65-50 victory over Lafayette at Kirby Sports Center, extending its winning streak to five games. The Midshipmen, now 18-6 overall and 9-2 in conference play, never trailed, using a stifling defensive effort and efficient inside scoring to subdue the Leopards for the second time this season. Lafayette fell to 7-16 and 4-7. The most important part of the game was Navy’s immediate and sustained defensive pressure, which set a disruptive tone from the opening tip and crippled the Lafayette offense for the entirety of the first half. The Midshipmen forced eight turnovers in the first 12 minutes, converting several into easy transition baskets to build a lead that would never be seriously challenged. Navy’s defensive dominance was most evident in a first-half stretch where they held Lafayette without a field goal for over seven minutes. After Shareef Jackson’s layup made it 2-0 for the Leopards, the home team managed just three free throws until KaiMani Murdock’s 3-pointer with 13:57 remaining in the half. By that point, Navy had already constructed a 7-5 lead, and they continued to build on it by limiting Lafayette to 24 points on 30 percent shooting in the opening period, taking a 26-24 advantage into halftime. The Midshipmen’s offense, while not explosive, was ruthlessly effective where it mattered. They attempted only 12 three-pointers, making one, and instead pounded the ball inside, scoring 42 points in the paint. Navy also capitalized on Lafayette’s mistakes, scoring 15 points off 13 Leopard turnovers. Aidan Kehoe, a 6-foot-10 junior from Montvale, New Jersey, orchestrated the victory with a complete performance, scoring 16 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out seven assists in 36 minutes. His passing from the high post was instrumental in dissecting the Lafayette defense. He was complemented by the backcourt duo of Austin Benigni and Donovan Draper. Benigni, a sophomore from The Woodlands, Texas, also scored 16 points and added four assists. Draper, a junior from West Palm Beach, Florida, provided a major spark off the bench with 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting, along with two blocks and two steals. His athletic finishes at the rim helped Navy maintain separation whenever Lafayette threatened a run. The Leopards, who shot just 36.5 percent from the field and 20 percent from three-point range, were led by Caleb Williams with 13 points and five assists. Andrew Phillips added 11 points, and Shareef Jackson contributed 10. However, the team managed only four assists against 13 turnovers, a testament to Navy’s disruptive defense. Navy’s defensive rating of 80.8 points allowed per 100 possessions underscored their control of the game’s tempo. They out-rebounded Lafayette 38-30 and recorded 10 steals. The victory solidified Navy’s position near the top of the Patriot League standings as they continue their push for a regular-season title. The Midshipmen have now held four of their last five opponents under 60 points. Lafayette, meanwhile, saw a modest two-game win streak snapped and will look to regroup on the road. The announced attendance at Kirby Sports Center was 1,306. Navy next hosts American on Saturday, while Lafayette travels to face Army on the same day.

EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — A surging Navy squad looks to continue its climb atop the Patriot League standings when it visits struggling Lafayette in a men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at Kirby Sports Center. The Midshipmen (17-6) enter on a seven-game winning streak, their latest an 87-71 victory over Loyola Maryland on Saturday. Navy’s defense has been stifling during the run, holding opponents to an average of 62.1 points per game. Navy’s success is fueled by forward Aidan Kehoe, who is coming off a 23-point, seven-rebound performance. Over the last eight games, Kehoe is averaging 18.1 points and 6.4 rebounds. He dominated the first meeting with Lafayette this season, posting 23 points and 11 rebounds in a 76-50 Navy win on Jan. 10. The host Leopards (7-15) have shown recent signs of life, winning two of their last three, including a 67-65 road win at American on Saturday. Guard Andrew Phillips led the way with 23 points in that victory and is averaging 17.4 points over his last five contests. However, Lafayette has struggled consistently, particularly on the defensive end where it allows a league-worst 76.2 points per game. Containing Kehoe and Navy’s efficient offense, which leads the Patriot League in field goal percentage, will be a primary challenge. The Midshipmen currently sit in second place in the conference, while the Leopards are near the bottom. Navy has won six straight in the series, with Lafayette’s last victory coming in February 2023. Following this game, Navy will host American on Saturday. Lafayette travels to face Army on the same day.