In a decisive victory on Thursday night, Aidan Kehoe contributed significantly to Navy’s 81-58 triumph over American, scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. This win marked a much-needed turnaround for the Midshipmen, who improved their record to 4-10 overall and 1-0 in the Patriot League. Donovan Draper also had a standout performance, finishing the game with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. Austin Benigni added to the effort, shooting 6 of 12 from the field, including one 3-pointer, and going a perfect 3 for 3 from the free-throw line, totaling 16 points. The win ended a six-game losing streak for Navy.

Colin Smalls led the Eagles with 18 points, while Matt Rogers contributed 12 points along with eight rebounds. Greg Jones chipped in nine points for American, who now holds a 6-8 record and is 0-1 in league play.

Navy took control of the game early, seizing the lead just 18 minutes into the first half and maintaining it until the end. Draper stood out by scoring 12 points in the first half, helping to establish a solid 42-29 advantage at halftime. In the second half, Navy surged ahead with an 8-0 run, expanding their lead from six points to 14. The Midshipmen outperformed American by 10 points in the second half, largely thanks to Kehoe, who was the team’s leading scorer in that period with 10 points.

Looking ahead, both teams will be back in action on Sunday. Navy will host Lafayette, while American will play at home against Holy Cross.