ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Austin Benigni scored 21 of his career-best 34 points in the second half and set a school record by going 17-17 from the foul line during an 85-80 victory by the Navy men's basketball team (1-1) over Harvard (1-1), Friday night at Alumni Hall in Annapolis.  

The game was the second in the 11th edition of the Veterans Classic.  VCU posted an 80-55 victory over Boston College in the evening's opener.

Benigni's 34 points set a new Veterans Classic record for the most points scored by a player in a game, while his foul shooting prowess broke the school standard for the most made free throws without a miss in a single game.

The entertaining affair featured 14 lead changes and seven ties.

"I am happy for our team," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis, the founder of the Veterans Classic.  "I thought we played pretty good last Monday at Saint Joseph's and just didn't finish.  They (Saint Joseph's) made some big shots.  Tonight we made some big shots.  I think it was a fun game to watch and coach.  I like what we did tonight.

"I think our students were great tonight.  We had a great student turnout and the fans were great.  Hopefully they enjoyed the way we played and come back.  Our student busy is really important to us.  If we can play an exciting style then they can really help us win some games."

Harvard used a 10-0 run to take a 25-18 lead midway through the first half.  The Crimson soon led, 31-21, with just under seven minutes still to play.  Navy closed the half on a 19-3 run to take a 40-34 lead at the break.  Benigni accounted for the last eight points of the run.

A basket and made foul shot by Benigni opened the second half (43-34), but Harvard soon closed to within two points at 47-45 and then used a 7-0 run to take a 52-51 lead with 12:46 showing on the clock.

Jordan Pennick accounted for five points during a 7-0 Navy spurt to give the Mids a 58-52 advantage.  It was a short-lived lead, however, as Harvard tallied the ensuing 10 points to regain a 62-58 advantage with nine minutes still to play.  Pennick again helped the Mids move in front as he hit a pair of triples as part of a 10-2 run that made the score 68-64 with six minutes remaining.

Harvard drew to within two points at both 68-66 (5:39) and 70-68 (3:54) before Benigni made a pair of foul shots to make it a 72-68 lead with 3:54 left.  A missed triple by the Crimson was followed by Jinwoo Kim scoring on the other end (74-68, 2:52).  Neither team scored until the Crimson made a pair of free throws with 52.3 seconds remaining to make it a 74-70 score.

Pennick was fouled less than two seconds later and he made both attempts to push the lead with 76-70.  A three-point play by Harvard sliced the lead in half (76-73) with 46.1 seconds left.  The Mids threw a long inbounds pass to Pennick who had shaken free from the defense and had a clear path to the basket.  Rushed, he missed the layup but Benigni was there to grab the offense board and score on the putback to make it a two-possession game at 78-73 with 42.6 seconds showing on the clock.

A Harvard turnover when a bad pass went out of bounds with 36.3 seconds left was followed by Benigni being fouled with 30.9 seconds remaining.  He made both free throws to extend the lead to 80-73.  A triple by the Crimson -- their 12th of the game -- with 24.0 seconds left (80-76) preceded Benigni being fouled again.  He walked to the charity stripe with 22.5 seconds left where he gave the Mids an 82-76 lead.  

An errant Harvard missed three-point attempt was grabbed by Donovan Draper, who was fouled with 12.2 seconds remaining.  He made one of his two attempts to close out the Navy scoring.

Harvard made more field goals (30-28) and three-point field goals (12-7) than Navy, but the Mids were 22-26 from the foul line while the Crimson were 8-15.

Navy also was the more advantageous team after mistakes as it outscored Harvard 28-2 in points scored after turnovers.  The Mids forced 19 turnovers and committed just seven of their own.

"We are trying to play fast," said DeChellis, "and I think the number that sticks out to me is that we had 28 points after their turnovers and Harvard had two points after our turnovers."

Benigni's 34 points bettered his previous career high of 32 set last year at Lehigh.  The previous high for points scored in a Veterans Classic game was 33 set by Utah State's Justin Beam against Richmond on 2021.  Additionally, his 17-17 effort from the foul line broke the previous school record of 16-16 established by Mike Heary against Lafayette in 1997. 

"I think he (Benigni) did a really good job in the spring and the summer, and with Fitz (Brian Fitzpatrick), our strength coach, in the fall," said DeChellis.  "He is much stronger.  The overall driving the ball and him taking some hits while driving; he is a year older and a year wiser and he is a stronger and more powerful guy.  He is a tough kid and a competitor and that is what separates him from others."

Pennick finished the game with 13 points, the second-best scoring effort of his career (16).  Aidan Kehoe also played well as he totaled 11 points on 5-7 shooting from the field and snared eight rebounds.

"Jordan hit some big shots at critical times," said DeChellis.  "Sometimes it is all about who made the big shot and the right time.  

"A game like this gives him confidence.  He has worked really hard at his shooting over the summer."

Navy will next play host to Rider Tuesday night.