ANNAPOLIS, Md. –– Navy's (7-1, 4-0 Patriot League) starting backcourt of John Carter Jr. (Jr., Spring Hill, Tenn.) and Cam Davis (Sr., Battlefield, Mo.) combined for 35 points to help the Mids defeat Lehigh (1-3, 1-3), 73-58, Sunday afternoon at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Md.
 
The win improves Navy to 4-0 in Patriot League play for the second time (1997-98) in the program's 30 years in the league, as well as the fourth time (1984-85, 1985-86) in Navy's 40 years of being in a conference.  Additionally, Navy has now posted either a 7-1 or 8-0 record through eight games four times dating back to the 1953-54 season (7-1 in 1959-60 and 2008-09, 8-0 in 1983-84).
 
"I'm really proud of our guys," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis.  "These (back-to-back) weekend games are challenging, and we have had success with winning both last week and this week.  It takes a lot of energy and effort.  Our athletic training staff with Hannah Jaussen and strength coach Brandon Spayd do a good job with the guys."
 
"I think it is about being on the same page and having the leadership, especially with Cam," said Carter as to why the Mids have started the league season so well.  "We all are just vocal about what the mission is.  As Coach 'D' says, whoever adapts the best has the better chance of winning these games.  We're just locked in knowing we have these two games and then we can rest afterward."
 
Lehigh took early leads of 4-0, 10-5 and 15-9, but a 10-0 run –– with the first seven points coming from Davis –– boosted Navy out to a 19-15 lead.  The lead would change hands four more times over the rest of the half, and the teams went into the locker room tied at 35.
 
Davis was 6-7 from the floor in scoring 13 first-half points.  His effort helped the Mids shoot 51.9 percent from the field, but Navy's defense allowed Lehigh to shoot 60 percent in the half.
 
"We didn't play our best game in the first half at all," said DeChellis.  "Give Lehigh the credit.  They made shots and were going downhill."
 
Each team put together a run in the early part of the second half.  Navy took a 41-37 lead before Lehigh jumped in front, 46-41.  Back came the Mids with the next six points to take a 47-46 lead.  That was the first of three lead changes in a span of 75 seconds, a sequence that ended with a Patrick Dorsey (So., Raleigh, N.C.) jumper and Navy in front, 49-48.  Carter then drained a three-point field goal on the ensuing Navy possession to make the score 52-48 with 9:46 still to play.
 
After a Lehigh basket from Nic Lynch made the score 52-50, Navy scored each of the next six and 14 of the next 16 points to extend its advantage out to 66-52 with just over four minutes remaining.  Five different Mids scored during that span that ended with Carter's fourth triple of the game.
 
Lehigh was able to climb to within 10 points of Navy at 68-58 before the Mids closed the game by scoring the last five points.
 
Navy dominated the glass in the game, snaring 41 rebounds and allowing Lehigh to gather in 18 caroms.  It was a 14-3 advantage for the Mids on the offensive glass, which helped them record 17 second-chance points and allowing just four.  That edge was 13-2 for Navy in the second half alone.  Those figures were part of why the Mids outshot Lehigh, 46%-36%, in the final 20 minutes of play.
 
"I thought we played much better defensively in the second half," said DeChellis.  "Defensively we were better.  I thought we shared the ball.  We had some major contributions from some guys
 
Carter drilled four three-point field goals for the second game in a row.  He finished today with 18 points, which was one better than the 17 posted by Davis.  The duo was a combined 13-23 from the field, with Carter also grabbing five rebounds and Davis adding four assists.  Also scoring in double figures was Tyler Nelson with 10 points to go along with eight rebounds.
 
"I thought Tyler played well," said DeChellis.  "He has been sort of struggling a bit, but he played very well.  I thought Jaylen Walker (So., Allen, Texas) played well, and Sean Yoder (So., Dublin, Pa.) came in the last six or seven minutes and did a really nice job."
 
Navy will face American this coming weekend.  The teams will meet Saturday in Annapolis and Sunday in Washington, D.C.