In a thrilling contest on Sunday, Austin Benigni showcased a standout performance as he led the Navy Midshipmen to an 83-77 victory over the Holy Cross Crusaders. Benigni ended the game with 26 points, scoring six of those during overtime. He made 7 of his 18 field goal attempts, including a couple of three-pointers, and excelled at the free-throw line with 10 successful shots out of 14 attempts. This win improved Navy’s record to 11-18 overall and 8-8 in the Patriot League.
Jordan Pennick also made a significant contribution for Navy, contributing 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including three successful three-point shots from seven attempts. Mike Woods further supported the team’s offense with 14 points, finishing the game by making 7 of 9 field goal attempts.
On the opposing side, the Crusaders had a strong performance from Max Green, who notched 20 points along with nine rebounds. DeAndre Williams matched Green’s scoring output, adding another 20 points along with four assists, while Caleb Kenney contributed 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.
Benigni kicked off the game with 10 points in the first half, which concluded with Navy trailing slightly at 37-36. In a pivotal moment of the second half, Navy surged forward with a critical 9-0 run that overturned their one-point deficit and placed them ahead 49-41 with 15:49 left on the clock. Pennick played a key role in the second half as well, recording 10 points. Ultimately, Navy maintained their lead to secure the win.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to return to the court on Wednesday. Navy will travel to face American, while Holy Cross will hit the road to challenge Colgate.
