ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy (5-7, 1-0) men's basketball team battled back from an 11-point deficit with nine minutes to play to record a 62-60 victory over Boston University (5-9, 0-1), Wednesday night at Alumni Hall in Annapolis.  The Mids led for just 71 seconds –– all in the last five minutes –– in what was the Patriot League opener for the both teams.

Navy has now won six-straight Patriot League openers, which matches the longest run of success in the league opener in the program's 33 years in the league (1996-01).

"We didn't play our best game individually," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis.  "But the most important thing is they found a way to win.  We never gave up, we dug in, we made big plays, got big rebounds down the stretch; we were outrebounded in the game but when the game was on the line they found a way to win.  I am proud of them for that.  This is all a growing experience for these guys.

"We fought for it (the win).  It wasn't as if they handed it over to us."

Boston used a 9-0 run to jump out to an early 18-6 lead.  The margin would be 12 points again at 23-11 and it was an 11-point game at 29-18 before Navy closed the half by scoring the last five points to pull to within 29-23 at the break.

The Terriers shot just 35 percent (11-31) from the floor, but the Mids made only 29 percent (8-28) of their shots.  Boston also held an 8-3 edge on the offensive glass (27-17 overall) and led, 7-3, in second-chance points.  

The Mids chipped away at the deficit and closed to within 36-35 after Mac MacDonald made three-point field goals on back-to-back trips down the floor.

Boston responded with a 10-0 run to regain a double-digit lead at 46-35 with just under 11 minutes showing on the clock, and it again was an 11-point game at 50-39 with nine minutes remaining.

It was a 51-43 Boston lead when the Mids scored the next nine points to take their first lead of the game at 52-51 with five minutes left to play.  The teams exchanged field goals (54-53 Navy), then the Terriers scored on a pair of free throws and a field goal over their next two possessions to take a 57-54 lead with 3:14 remaining.  Another Navy missed shot was followed by Boston missing a pair of foul shots on its next trip down the floor.  

MacDonald was fouled for the Mids and he made one attempt from the line with 2:08 left.  A missed triple by the Terriers was gathered in by the Mids and Austin Benigni was fouled in the open court with 1:40 on the clock.  He made both attempts to tie the game at 57.

Donovan Draper snared a defensive board after a Boston missed shot, then grabbed an offensive carom on the ensuing Navy possession.  DeChellis immediately called timeout with 44.8 seconds left.  The Mids put the ball into the hands of Benigni who scooted down the lane to score on a layup and put them in front, 59-57, with 31.4 seconds remaining.

The Terriers called timeout with 28.3 seconds left.  They sent the ball into the lane where Draper fouled Ben Palacios with 10.5 seconds to play.  It was Draper's fifth foul of the night.  Palacios missed the first attempt but made the second to make it a 59-58 Navy lead.

Navy inbounded the ball to Benigni, who was fouled with 8.7 seconds remaining.  He converted both foul shots to stretch the lead to 61-58.

With it being a three-point margin, the Mids elected to commit a foul just after the Terriers advanced the ball over halfcourt before they could try for a game-tying three-point field goal attempt.  That sent Miles Brewster to the free throw line with 4.6 seconds remaining.  He made both attempts to again make it a one-point game at 61-60.

Lysander Rehnstrom was to trigger the inbounds play against the Boston press.  His low pass went through the legs of Austin Inge underneath the Boston basket.  Anthony Morales picked up the loose ball and tried a shot while standing underneath the rim.  Rehnstrom disturbed the attempt just enough for Morales to miss it, with Rehnstrom then grabbing the errant shot and being fouled with 1.4 seconds remaining.  He marched to the other end of the court and made the first shot but missed the second.  Morales let the ball bounce in the middle of the free throw lane until he could get a good handle on it, then fired it toward the basket.  His effort fell short as the buzzer sounded.

Navy shot 52 percent from the field in the second half and held Boston to a mark of 32 percent.  That allowed the Mids to end the game on the better end of a 39.6 percent to 33.9 percent showing by the teams.  Neither team shot the ball well from the foul line as the Mids were 15-25 (60%) and the Terriers were 16-24 (66.7%).

Navy won the battle on the glass in the second half, 19-16, but Boston led, 43-36, on the night.  This included a 14-8 edge in offensive boards.

One game after scoring 28 points against William & Mary, Benigni scored 22 points this evening.  He also added four assists and four rebounds and the point guard did not commit a turnover in his nearly 38 minutes of playing time.

"Austin is a competitive dude," said DeChellis.  "He made eight of 10 from the free throw line and didn't turn the ball over once tonight.  He was the floor general."

MacDonald was the only other Mid to score in double figures as he tied his career high with 17.  MacDonald, who set his career-best effort Dec. 21 at Youngstown State, was 3-4 from three-point land and 6-9 from the floor overall.

Draper, who was in foul trouble for much of the night, totaled 10 rebounds, seven points, three steals and two blocks.  Rehnstrom contributed six rebounds and four points and Inge added seven rebounds, three points and two assists.

"Mac poked his head up tonight and made a couple of big shots for us tonight," said DeChellis.  "That was important for us.  Draper really didn't play great the first 30 minutes but the last 10, he found his rhythm.  (Lysander) can make shots and stretch the floor.  We need another guy who can shoot.  He has done a nice job for us."

Navy will close its two-game homestand Saturday with a 1 p.m. game against Colgate.