ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Austin Benigni and Donovan Draper each individually set career highs for points as the sophomores collectively totaled 49 points in a 77-65 victory for the Navy men's basketball team (4-7) over William & Mary (5-8), Saturday afternoon at Alumni Hall in Annapolis.

"I am very pleased," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis about the win.  "(William & Mary has) a lot of transfers, a lot of guys from power five (conference) places.  I thought our guys did a good job of fighting.  I think they (William & Mary) are good.  I think they will win a lot of games in the Coastal Athletic Association. 

"I am proud of our guys.  I thought we did the things we needed to.  We guarded the three, I thought we rebounded the ball pretty well, and we took care of the ball (forced 16 turnovers and committed 10).  I didn't know if we could score enough points.  Draper and Benigni had good offensive games for us."

The close first half ended with Navy in front, 29-28.  There were 11 ties in the opening 20 minutes of the game and the largest lead for either team was five points.  

The second half began in a similar back-and-forth fashion.  A three-point field goal by Lysander Rehnstrom gave the Mids a 44-42 lead with just under 13 minutes remaining on the clock.  That basket marked the eighth lead change of the second half and proved to be the final one for the game.

Rehnstrom's triple sparked a 12-0 run by the Mids that boosted them to a 53-42 advantage with 10 minutes still to play.

The Tribe quickly climbed back into the game and soon it was a 56-54 Navy lead with 7:13 remaining on the clock.  

The teams exchanged baskets (58-56), then Benigni made a pair of foul shots to double the lead (60-56).  A steal by Rehnstrom led to a layup by Draper that pushed the lead out to 62-56.  A missed shot and subsequent shot clock violation by the Tribe was followed by Draper drilling a baseline triple.  Another William & Mary missed shot led to Austin Inge hitting a long three to cap a 10-0 run that made the score 68-56 with just 3:42 showing on the clock.

The margin remained at least 10 points over the rest of the contest.

"It was a really good test for the team," said DeChellis.  "They challenged us in the second half.  We made a run, they made a run and then we had another big one to get it back and they made a little one.  I think that was good for us.  We are a young team and still trying to grow and figure it out.  I think they grew up today."

"Coming from where we were at in the first game of the year at Campbell to today is a big step for such a young team," said Benigni.  "We played a pretty tough schedule with a lot of older teams, with us being one of the youngest in the country going up against a lot of fifth and sixth-year guys.  Getting that battle day in and day out has prepared us for the Patriot League season."

William & Mary entered the game ranked 21st nationally with an average of just under 10 three-point field goals made a game and was sinking 35.1 percent of its three-point field goal attempts.  Navy, which was fourth in the country in three-point field goal percentage, allowed the Tribe to make just six triples and shoot 25 percent from beyond the arc.

Navy made five three-point field goals on the day (33.3%) and totaled only two more total field goals made (25-23), but was 22-30 from the foul line in contrast to the 13-16 effort by William & Mary.

Aiding that percentage for the Mids was Benigni, who was 12-12 from the charity stripe in scoring 28 points.  His previous career high was 23 points.  Benigni was 9-9 from the foul line in the second half.  He also added five assists.  

The last Mid to be perfect from the foul line with 12 or more attempts was Chris Harris, who was 14-14 vs. Lehigh on Jan. 14, 2010.

"That's what I am here for," said Benigni.  "Trying to create things, whether it is for others or myself.  Trying to pick apart the defense and find weaknesses."

Draper set a career high with 21 points (previous best was 19) to go along with 10 rebounds and four steals.  He has now posted a double-double in four of the last five games against Division I opponents.

"I thought it was a great defensive effort," said DeChellis.  "Offensively, Benigni and Draper played great.  Benigni made a million free throws and hit some big shots for us.  Everybody pitched in.  I thought Lysander off the bench gave us some good minutes and also made a big shot for us when we needed it.  

"I thought it was a good test for us.  I think William & Mary is a good basketball team.  They are long, athletic and have guys who can score."

Joining the pair in scoring in double figures was Inge with 10 points.

Navy opens Patriot League play with home games January 3 against Boston U. (7 p.m.) and January 6 against Colgate (1 p.m.).