LEWISBURG, Pa. –– Cam Davis (Jr., Battlefield, Mo.) broke a tied game with a three-point field goal then grabbed a defensive rebound and made two free throws over the last 27 seconds of a 60-56 victory by the Navy (8-6, 2-1 Patriot League) men's basketball team over Bucknell (6-10, 2-1), Wednesday night at Sojka Pavilion in Lewisburg, Pa.
 
The win by the Mids snapped an eight-year, 11-game losing streak to the Bison in the facility.
 
"Great win for our kids," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis.  "We didn't finish the Holy Cross game (a 63-61 loss Sunday) the way we wanted to, but I thought our kids came in here and battled.  Cam made a big shot and we made our free throws when we needed to.  Really, really proud of our kids."
 
The Mids scored the first seven points of the game and were able to take a 23-16 lead with 5:40 left before halftime.  The Bison rallied and took a 24-23 lead with 2:10 remaining, but the teams went into halftime with the Mids in front, 27-25.
 
Navy took a 37-32 lead early in the second half only to see Bucknell score 11 of the next 13 points to take a 43-39 lead with 8:49 still to play.  The Mids answered and tied the game at 46-46 three minutes later.  Bucknell would regain a slim lead before a triple by John Carter Jr. (So., Spring Hill, Tenn.) knotted the score at 50-50 with 2:54 remaining.
 
Navy's defense limited Bucknell to one shot on the next Bison possession, then Davis was fouled on a drive to the basket.  He made both foul shots to put the Mids in front, 52-50, with 1:59 showing on the clock. 
 
Bucknell missed a pair of foul shots on its ensuing opportunity with the ball, with Daniel Deaver (Fr., Falls Church, Va.) grabbing the errant ball following the second miss.  Carter would miss a jumper on the other end of the court, but Greg Summers (So., Battlefield, Mo.) gathered in the offensive carom and was fouled.  He made just one of his two attempts from the line with 1:12 left to make it a three-point game.
 
The Bison would tie the game at 53-53 on their next trip down the court as John Meeks made three foul shots with 48.1 seconds left.
 
Davis dribbled some time off the clock on Navy's resulting offensive opportunity, then Summers took the ball and started to drive down the lane.  He halted his progress and kicked the ball out to Davis at the top of the key.  Davis would sink the long shot to make the score 56-53 with 26.3 seconds still to play. 
 
Bucknell called timeout, then tried to attack the Navy defense but the Mids forced the Bison into a tough look at the basket.  Avi Toomer would take a long three-point shot with 14 seconds left which missed the mark.  Davis was there for the rebound and he was quickly fouled with 12.6 seconds remaining.  He made both shots to push the lead out to 58-53.
 
A quick three-point attempt by the Bison missed and Tyler Nelson (Fr., Monroe, N.C.) was there for the loose ball.  He was fouled with seven seconds left, and made both attempts to increase the lead out to seven points.
 
Navy was 11-18 (78.9%) from the foul line in the second half and 20-25 (80%) from the stripe for the game.  In contrast, Bucknell was 11-17 (64.7%) from the free throw line after halftime and 15-23 (65.2%) for the game.
 
Both teams made 18 field goals in the game and Bucknell led Navy in three-point field goals, 5-4.
 
Navy committed 20 turnovers, which led to 17 Bucknell points.  Conversely, the Mids tallied six points following the 14 turnovers recorded by the Bison.
 
A key to the win was the play of Navy's bench players.  A total of 11 Mids to the court, with all of them playing at least seven minutes.  The six reserve players scored 13 points this evening.
 
"They (the bench) gave us a basket here and there and defensively they were okay," said DeChellis.  "We talkled about before the game our bench has to come in and get something done for us.  I thought they were solid.  I think they can play better.
 
"I was really proud of Deaver, making his first start.  I thought he battled, I thought he played pretty well, I thought he scored around the basket a few times.  It is not easy, and I thought he came in and did a good job."
 
Davis led the Mids with 20 points in the game.  He was 6-10 from the floor in all, 2-5 from three-point range and made all six of his foul shots. 
 
"Cam got the ball; he is a big-time player and made a big-time shot and then made his free throws," said DeChellis. 
 
Joining him in double figures was Summers with 13 points.  He also added three assists, two steals and one blocked shot.  Deaver, who made the first start of his career tonight due to an injury to Evan Wieck (Sr., Amarillo, Texas), scored a career-best eight points.
 
Navy will be home Saturday to play host to Colgate at 4 p.m. in Alumni Hall.