ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Austin Benigni (Fr., The Woodlands, Texas) accounted for 23 of the Navy (4-1) men's basketball team's 55 bench points in an 80-67 win over Youngstown State (4-2), Sunday afternoon at Alumni Hall in Annapolis. 

"Really proud of our team," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis.  "That's a good weekend for us (Navy defeated UC San Diego Friday).  We beat two quality teams.  This team today (Youngstown State), I thought was really athletic.  They are older guys, fifth-year guys and grad students.

"We had 55 points off the bench.  That's unbelievable.  We have a second wave we can bring in and there is no real drop off."

The Mids turned an early nine-point deficit (17-9) into a 13-point lead (35-22) late in the first half.  Benigni scored eight points and dished out three assists during that 24-9 run.  He totaled 10 points and three assists in the first half after he had entered the game with 13 points and seven assists over the first four games of the season combined.  That effort helped the Mids to a 45-35 lead at the break.

"It is kind of the beauty of this team," said Benigni, "how everyone has stepped up.  We had a lot of guys step up."

Navy as a team was 8-11 from three-point range (10-16 in two-point field goal attempts) in the first 20 minutes of the game.  Altogether, the Mids shot 66.7 percent from the floor in the first half and held the Penguins to a 40.6-percent effort.

Youngstown State closed to within seven points at 45-38 and 47-40 early in the second half.  The latter score occurred with 17:32 showing on the clock.  Navy would score the next 18 points of the game to jump in front, 65-40, with 11:48 remaining.  The Mids were 7-8 from the field during that run, including 2-3 from three-point land.  Benigni tallied 10 points during the spurt that saw Navy score on eight-straight possessions.

The Penguins climbed back to within 15 points at 67-52 with 8:40 still to play.  Navy scored the next six points to take a 73-52 advantage with seven minutes left.

"I like our depth," said DeChellis.  "We have a deep team.  Guys can come in, like Benigni, and beat you.

"This is a team that comes in and they all take turns doing their jobs and trying to be positive in affecting the game."

Navy held a 55-15 advantage in bench points.  In addition to the 23 points -- plus five assists and four rebounds -- by Benigni, fellow reserve Patrick Dorsey (Sr., Raleigh, N.C.) scored 15 points.  The duo was a combined 5-8 from three-point range and 14-17 from the floor overall.  Benigni's lone miss in nine field goal attempts was his final shot of the game with 15 seconds left to play.

"He (Benigni) has had some really good days," said DeChellis.  "He has been fighting a foot injury, so he hasn't had the same pop.  But he had no pain today, moving pretty quickly and getting to the basket."

The Mids shot 59.2 percent from the field for the game and limited the Penguins to a mark of 37.9 percent.  

Navy returns to action Saturday at 11 a.m. when it plays host to Mount St. Mary's.