In a thrilling match-up on Saturday, Austin Benigni led the Navy Midshipmen to a 61-54 victory over their rivals, the Army Black Knights. Benigni showcased his skills by contributing 21 points, making 8 out of 19 attempts from the floor, which included two successful three-pointers from four attempts, and went 3 for 4 at the free-throw line. Alongside him, Jordan Pennick made a significant impact with 17 points and grabbed five rebounds. Additionally, Donovan Draper had a solid performance, scoring nine points from his 2 of 5 shooting, and he was perfect at the free-throw line, hitting all four attempts while also securing eight rebounds.
On the other side, the Black Knights were led by Jalen Rucker, who scored 18 efficient points. AJ Allenspach supported the team with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Ryan Curry added a useful contribution of 10 points and seven rebounds.
The first half saw Benigni score 12 points, but Navy found themselves down by two at halftime, trailing 28-26. The Midshipmen rallied in the closing moments of the game, with Pennick taking charge by scoring the team’s final seven points, ultimately sealing the seven-point victory for Navy.
Both teams will be back in action on Wednesday, with Navy set to visit Colgate and Army preparing to host American.
