2/23/2002 - Men's Basketball
Navy Men's Basketball Team Loses Star Game To Army
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WEST POINT, N.Y.-Navy's (10-19, 5-9 in the Patriot League) worst basketball season in nine years hit rock bottom on Saturday afternoon as the Mids lost to Army (12-15, 6-8 in the Patriot League), 73-63, in front of 4,256 fans at Christl Arena in West Point. The loss broke a 13-game winning streak against the Black Knights and it was the first time that a Navy Basketball team has lost the Star-game since 1992.
"Army deserved to win the basketball game," said Navy head coach Don DeVoe. "Their aggressiveness and ability to get good shots made the difference."
Both teams struggled in the first half, as Army shot just 35 percent (9-26) from the floor, while Navy connected on just 28 percent (9-32) of its shots. The Mids were hurt by foul trouble as leading scorer Jehiel Lewis played six scoreless minutes while picking up three fouls. Jason Jeanpierre, who scored Navy's first seven points of the game and then missed his final six shots of the first half, also picked up three first half fouls.
"It hurt having two of our best players in foul trouble, but the players on the court needed to step up and we didn't," said junior forward Scott Long.
The Mids were still down just three at 35-32 when Francis Ebong scored his sixth point of the second half at the 16:12 mark, but Army went on a 14-4 run over the next five minutes to take a 49-36 lead on a Jonte Harrell basket with 10:54 left in the game.
Navy, though, would make a run at the Black Knights, scoring eight straight points and cutting the lead to five with 8:01 left when Scott Long converted on a three-point play. After a Francis Ebong basket with 7:20 remaining made it 51-46, Charles Woodruff scored two quick baskets and Josh Wilson scored another as Army pushed the lead back to 11 at 57-46 with 5:42 remaining. Navy could get no closer than six points the rest of the way as the Mids dropped their fourth straight game and seventh in the last eight contests.
J.P. Spatola led four Army players in double figures with 19 points and dished out a game-high six assists. Harrell scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Chris Spatola scored 15 points and grabbed five caroms. Woodruff added 12 points and blocked four shots. Army shot 52 percent (12-23) in the second half, while holding the Mids to just 36 percent (13-36).
Navy was led by Ebong, who scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Long, who added 15 points and grabbed 12 boards. Jeanpierre chipped in 15 points. Navy committed 16 turnovers and had just seven assists.
"We don't have anyone to lead us on the floor in setting people up for good shots," said DeVoe. "Not to mention the fact that we don't play defense."
With the loss the Mids finish the regular season in seventh place, the school's worst finish in the Patriot League since its initial season in the league (1991-92) when Navy finished eighth.
Navy will still have a chance to salvage its season next weekend at the Patriot League Tournament at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md. Navy will play Saturday at 5 p.m. against an opponent to be announced (Holy Cross, Lafayette or Bucknell, the Mids are 1-5 against the three teams, beating Bucknell at home). Tickets for the tournament are still available by calling the Navy Ticket Office at 1-800-US4-NAVY as well as on game day at the Show Place Arena Box Office. For directions to Show Place Arena log on to showplacearena.com(.)
