In a thrilling match on Friday evening, the Navy Midshipmen triumphed over the Harvard Crimson with a final score of 85-80. Austin Benigni was the standout performer for Navy, pouring in an impressive 34 points while also contributing five rebounds and seven assists to help his team improve to a record of 1-1 this season.

Alongside Benigni, Jordan Pennick added 13 points, showcasing his shooting skills with a 4 for 9 performance from the field, including three 3-pointers made out of five attempts. Aidan Kehoe also made his mark by scoring 11 points with a shooting line of 5 of 7, along with contributing eight rebounds and five steals to the team’s efforts.

On the other side, Robert Hinton was the leading scorer for Harvard, finishing the night with 26 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, showcasing a strong all-around performance. Thomas Batties II was another key contributor for the Crimson, scoring 17 points and recording four blocks, while Chandler Pigge added 16 points and secured eight rebounds.

As the first half concluded, Navy held a slight lead over Harvard, finishing 40-34. Benigni was instrumental in this lead, netting 13 points in the opening half. His dominance continued in the second half, where he scored 21 points, ultimately leading Navy to a thrilling five-point victory.