Boston U. (5-8 / 0-0) at Navy (8-5 / 0-0)
Wednesday, Dec. 31  I  1 p.m.  I  Alumni Hall  I  Annapolis, Md.

Video     ESPN+  I  Matt Sabados, Mike Heary
Radio    WNAV  I  Matt Sabados, Mike Heary

Game Information
•    Navy closes the 2025 calendar year and begins its 35th Patriot League campaign Wednesday at 1 p.m. when it plays host to Boston University in Alumni Hall.
•    The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with WNAV providing radio coverage.

Attending the Game
•    Only those vehicles driven by someone with a Department of Defense (DoD)-approved identification card will be allowed onto the USNA.
•    Fans without DoD approved vehicle access to the USNA must park outside of The Yard.  The simplest way to do this is to take the free shuttle bus, which starts running one hour before tip.
•    The shuttle bus will depart from and return to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (550 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, Md., 21401).  Enter the blue / west parking lot through gate 5 off of Taylor Avenue.  There is a $10 per vehicle parking fee.  The free fan shuttle bus will leave from and return to the Blue Angel jet.  
•    Whether a visitor rides the shuttle bus or walks through one of the USNA gates, everyone ages 18 and over must have a valid picture ID (i.e.: State issued driver's license with REAL ID or a government issued passport). Visitors ages 17 and younger who do not have a valid picture ID must be accompanied by an adult. Foreign passports are not permitted for general access.

A Look Back
•    Navy tallied a pair of victories after final exams and before a break in the schedule for Christmas, winning an 88-55 game over Coppin State on Dec. 19 and a 70-23 decision over Rosemont College on Dec. 21.
•    Aidan Kehoe was 10-13 from the floor in scoring a career-high 22 points while adding 12 rebounds during the win over the Eagles.  Austin Benigni posted 20 points, six assists and five caroms in the game.
•    Kehoe then recorded nine points and 10 rebounds in the victory over the Ravens.  Donovan Draper led the Navy offense with 15 points.
•    Kehoe was named the Patriot League Player of the Week for his efforts in those two games.

Boston U. Preview
•    The Terriers travel to Annapolis with a record of 5-8 this season.  That mark includes a 1-6 record in true road games. One of those road losses was an 88-82 overtime defeat at New Hampshire.
•    Boston's road win was a 76-75 overtime victory over Northeastern in the team's season opener.  Other road defeats have been at Northwestern (76-52), at Columbia (54-49) and at Penn State (96-87).
•    The Terriers defeated UMass Lowell, 88-76, in their last game on Dec. 21.

Series History
•    The Navy-Boston U. series dates back to the 1959 NCAA Tournament when the Terriers defeated the Mids, 62-55 in overtime, in a regional semifinal round game played in Charlotte, N.C.
•    Boston U. leads the all-time series with Navy, 15-13.  The Terriers lead the Mids, 7-5 in games played in Annapolis.  
•    The teams have split the 22 league regular season games in the series.  Boston U. holds a 7-4 advantage in league regular season games played on The Yard.
•    Navy has won the last five games played on The Yard, four of which were league regular season games.

Series Trends
•    The team leading at halftime has posted an 8-1 record in the last nine games and a 21-5 record since the teams have been fellow members of the Patriot League.
•    The team making more three-point field goals has compiled a 15-7 record in the last 26 games (four ties).
•    The team grabbing more rebounds has tallied a 3-5 record in the last eight games and a 16-8 record in the last 26 games (two ties).
•    The team committing fewer turnovers has posted a 1-3 record in the last five games (one tie) and an 11-14 record in the last 26 games (one tie).
•    The home team in the Navy-Boston U. series has posted a 9-3 record in the last 12 games.  This is after the home team had compiled a 2-12 record in the first 14 games when the teams first became fellow members of the Patriot League.

Mids and Terriers Atop League in Off. Boards
•    Navy and Boston U. typically rank toward the top of the Patriot League for the most offensive rebounds during league games.  One of the teams has finished first in the league in each of the last six seasons, with the other team placing second in three of those years.
•    However, the team grabbing more offensive rebounds has lost the last six games and posted a 5-10 record (one tie) in the last 16 games.

Opening Night Notes
•    Navy has posted a 17-17 record in its first Patriot League game of the season.
•    The Mids have compiled a 12-8 record when opening the league season at home.  Navy has won its last five games when playing its first league game of a season in Alumni Hall.
•    Navy has won its Patriot League opening game, regardless of site, in seven-straight seasons (2019-25).
•    That breaks the previous Navy record for the longest run of winning the program's Patriot League opener when the Mids won six in a row from 1996-01.
•    The next longest active winning streak in Patriot League opening games is Colgate with three in a row.
•    Navy has previously faced Boston U. in its first game of a league season in 2022-23 (Navy won in Boston, 75-58) and 2023-24 (Navy won in Annapolis, 62-60).

On This Date
•    Navy has posted a 3-4 record in games played on New Year's Eve.  
•    The last time the Mids played on Dec. 31 was in 2014 when they defeated Loyola, 70-47, in Annapolis.  That has been Navy's lone Patriot League games played on the date until this season.

Home in Alumni Hall
•     Alumni Hall has been home to the Navy basketball teams since the 1991-92 season.
•    The Mids have compiled an overall record of 291-190 record in the facility.  This includes a 138-112 record in Patriot League regular season games.
•    There have been 61 future NBA players to play in Alumni Hall since it opened.
•    The court was christened Dave Smalley Court during the 2005-06 season.
•    Smalley was associated with Navy athletics for over 50 years as a player, coach, physical education instructor and administrator.
•    The 1957 graduate of the USNA scored 856 points during his three varsity seasons.  He also played on the Navy baseball team before he served five years as an officer in the Marine Corps.
•    Smalley later served as an assistant coach for the men's team for four years before becoming the head coach beginning with the 1966-67 season.  He stayed in that role until becoming the first Navy women's basketball coach in the summer of 1976.

Navy Good Again on the Offensive Boards 
•    Navy has been very good over the last number of years at winning the offensive rebound margin.
•    The Mids are +1,079 in offensive rebounding margin over the last 12 seasons.

Second-Chance Points 
•    Navy has regularly turned those second-chance opportunities into points. 
•    The Mids are +974 points in second chance points scored over the last 12 years.

Benigni Scores 1,500th Point
•    Austin Benigni became the 27th Mid to score 1,000 career points during Navy's Jan. 18, 2025, game at Bucknell.
•    He reached the milestone in his 81st career game.  That ranks him 12th for the fewest games needed to score 1,000 points.
•    He then reached the 1,500-point plateau during Navy's Dec. 19 game against Coppin State. He now ranks ninth at Navy with 1,524 points.

At the FT Line – Austin Benigni
•    Austin Benigni ranked among the top-100 players in the NCAA in free throws made, free throws attempted and free throw percentage for the third year in a row.
•    He ranks among the NCAA's active career leaders in both free throws made and attempted.

Active NCAA Career Leaders for FTM
Rnk.    FTM    Player, School
1.    542    PJ Haggerty, Kansas State
2.    509    Austin Benigni, Navy
3.    519    Freddy Hicks, Tarleton State

Active NCAA Career Leaders for FTA
Rnk.    FTA    Player, School
1.    709    Freddy Hicks, Tarleton State
2.    691    PJ Haggerty, Kansas State
3.    642    Ezra Ausar, USC
4.    637    Graham Ike, Gonzaga
5.    608    Austin Benigni, Navy

•    He also ranks among the Navy leaders for most foul shots attempted in a season and career.

Most Free Throws Made in a Season at Navy
Rnk.    FTM    Player, Year
1.    220    Austin Benigni, 2025
2.    208    David Robinson, 1986
3.    203    David Robinson, 1987

Most Free Throws Made - Career at Navy
Rnk.    FTM    Player, Year
1.    605    David Robinson, 1984-87
2.    568    Vernon Butler, 1983-86
3.    523    Austin Benigni, 2023-pes.

Career Free Throws Made - Service Academy Players
Rnk.    FTM    Player, School, Years
1.    650    Kevin Houston, Army, 1984-87
2.    605    David Robinson, Navy, 1984-87
3.    568    Vernon Butler, Navy, 1983-86
4.    529    Otis Jones, Air Force, 1992-95
5.    523    Austin Benigni, Navy, 2023-pres.

Most Free Throws Attempted - Season at Navy
Rnk.    FTM    Player, Year
1.    331    David Robinson, 1986
2.    317    David Robinson, 1987
3.    256    John Clune, 1954
4.    255    Austin Benigni, 2025

Most Free Throws Attempted - Career at Navy
Rnk.    FTA    Player, Years
1.    964    David Robinson, 1984-87
2.    777    Vernon Butler, 1983-86
3.    608    Austin Benigni, 2023-pres.

•    Benigni ranks among the Navy leaders for career free throw percentage.

Highest Free Throw Pct. - Career at Navy
Rnk.    FT%    Player, Years    
1.    .860    Austin Benigni, 2023-pres.
2.    .856    John Tolmie, 1967-69
3.    .848    Chris Harris, 2007-10

•    He also ranks among the Patriot League leaders for career free throw percentage.

Highest Free Throw Pct. - Career Patriot League
Rnk.    FT%    Player, Years    
1.    .870    Chris Spatola, Army, 1999-02
2.    .865    Brett Eppehimer, Lehigh, 1996-99
3.    .860    Austin Benigni, Navy, 2023-pres.
4.    .848    Chris Harris, Navy, 2007-10

Benigni Leading in Points and Assists
•     Benigni is the second Mid with 1,500 points and 300 assists in a career.

Mids with 1,000 Points and 300 Assists / Career
Player, Years    Points    Assists
Kaleo Kina, 2006-09    1,528    392
Austin Benigni, 2023-pres.    1,524    390

•     He ranks among the Navy leaders for career assists.

Most Career Assists (since 1971-72)
Rnk.    Asts.    Player, Years
1.    714    Doug Wojcik, 1985-87
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7.    421    Mickey Hampton, 1973-75
8.    392    Kaleo Kina, 2006-09
9.    390    Austin Benigni, 2023-pres.

•     Benigni is one of nine active players who have played only on the NCAA Division I level with both 1,500 points and 300 assists.

Active NCAA Players with 1,500 Points and 300 Assists  
(only played on the Division I level)
Player, School    Points    Assists
Nijel Peck, Oklahoma    1,957    409
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State    1,739    459
Robbie Avila, Saint Louis    1,703    376
Boopie Miller, SMU    1,641    531
Jacari Lane, Texas A&M    1,581    416
Duke Miles, Vanderbilt    1,553    394
Donovan Dent, UCLA    1,551    572
Braden Smith, Purdue    1,538    881
Austin Benigni, Navy    1,524    390

•     He is on the verge of becoming the seventh Patriot League player with 1,500 points and 400 assists. 

Patriot League Players with 1,500 Points and 400 Assists  
Player, School, Years    Points    Assists
Marquis Hall, Lehigh, 2007-10    1,514    566
Sa'eed Nelson, American, 2017-20    2,116    521
Nick Lindner, Lafayette, 2014-17    1,509    519
Tommy Funk, Army, 2017-20    1,544    728
Jordan Burns, Colgate, 2018-21    1,666    503
Tucker Richardson, Colgate, 2019-23    1,740    626
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Austin Benigni, Navy, 2023-pres    1,524    390

•     Benigni is one of three Mids to rank among the top-10 statistical leaders in both career points and assists.

Navy's Top-10 Players in Points and Assists  
Player, School, Years    Points    Assists
Rob Romaine, 1981-84    10th / 1,394    3rd / 523
Kaleo Kina, 2006-09    8th / 1,528    8th / 392
Austin Benigni, 2023-pres    9th / 1,524    9th / 390

Donovan Draper's Double-Doubles
•    Though he has played a little more than only two full seasons, Donovan Draper ranks 10th at Navy with 15 career double-doubles. 

Most Double-Doubles - Career at Navy
Rnk.    No.    Player, Years
1.    74    David Robinson, 1984-87
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7.    22    Chris Reddington, 1964-66
8.    21    Hassan Booker, 1995-98
9.    19    Jay Metzler, 1958-60
10.    15    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.

Draper's Steals and Rebounds
•    Donovan Draper spent the 2021-22 academic year as a football player at the Naval Academy Prep School.  He then was wide receiver at Navy on the 2022-23 team.
•    Draper, who was an all-county basketball player in high school, joined the Navy basketball team in the spring of 2023.
•    After going 994 days between his last high school basketball game and first as a Mid, he made an immediate impact as he ranked among the Patriot League and NCAA leaders in multiple statistical categories (steals, offensive rebounds, total rebounds).
•    He ranks among the Navy career leaders in steals and steals per game.

Navy Career Steals List (since 1982-83)
Rnk.    Stls.    Player, Years (games)
1.    209    Chris Williams, 1998-01 (111)
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6.    160    David Robinson, 1984-87 (127)
7.    142    Hassan Booker, 1995-98 (101)
8.    139    Skip Victor, 1996-99 (72)
    139    Corey Johnson, 2005-07 (77)
10.    138    Jason Jeanpierrie, 2000-03 (109)
11.    137    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres. (78)

Highest Career Steals / Game (since 1982-83)
Rnk.    Pts.    Player, Years    
1.    1.93    Skip Victor, 1996-99
2.    1.88    Chris Williams, 1998-01
3.    1.81    Corey Johnson, 2005-07
4.    1.79    Hasan Abdullah, 2016-19
5.    1.77    J.J. Avila, 2011-12
6.    1.76    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.
7.    1.74    Brian Walker, 1994-97


•    Draper ranks among the Navy leaders for the most career offensive and defensive rebounds and the highest career offensive and defensive rebounding average.

Most Career Offensive Rebounds (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    OR    Player, Years
1.    331    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91
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8.    209    Francis Ebong, 2000-03
9.    199    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.

Highest Career OR/G Average (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    OR/G    Player, Years    OR / G
1.    2.98    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91    255 / 101
2.    2.56    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.    202 / 79
3.    2.55    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.    199 / 78
4.    2.53    Hassan Booker, 1995-98    331 / 111

Most Career Defensive Rebounds (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    DR    Player, Years
1.    544    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91
2.    450    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.

Highest Career DR/G Average (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    OR/G    Player, Years    DR / G
1.    5.77    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.    450 / 78
2.    4.91    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91    544 / 111

•    Donovan Draper is the second Mid to have totaled over 500 points and 500 rebounds in their first two seasons with the team.

Mids with 500 Pts. & 500 Rebs. in First 2 Seasons
Vernon Butler – 1983, 1984
Donovan Draper – 2024, 2025

•    He grabbed the 600th rebound of his career Nov. 18 at North Carolina and now ranks 10th at Navy for the most career caroms.
•    Draper snared the 600th board of his career in his 70th game, making him the third fastest to 600 rebounds.

Most Career Rebounds (Games)
Rnk.    Rebs.    Player, Years (games)
1.    1,314    David Robinson, 1984-87 (127)
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7.    702    Larry Wigley, 1952-55 (85)
8.    649    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres. (78)

•    Draper is one of 12 Mids to have totaled both 600 points and 600 rebounds in a career.

Mids with 600 Points and 600 Rebounds / Career
Player, Years    Points    Rebounds
Don Lange, 1952-54    1,344    785
Richard Brown, 1958-60    657    645
Hank Kuzma, 1975-78    1,388    749
Kevin Sinnett, 1976-79    1,687    797
Vernon Butler, 1983-86    1,952    1,115
David Robinson, 1984-87    2,669    1,315
Eddie Reddick, 1988-91    1,366    875
Hassan Booker, 1995-98    931    628
Jordan Sugars, 2009-12    1,346    624
Worth Smith, 2012-15    1,172    603
Tom Lacey, 2015-18    679    611
Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.    686    649

•     Draper is on the verge of becoming the third Mid to rank among the top-10 statistical leads in both career rebounds and steals**.

Navy's Top-10 Players in Points and Steals**  
Player, School, Years    Rebounds    Steals**
David Robinson, 1984-87    1st / 1,394    6th / 160
Hassan Booker, 1995-98    9th / 628    7th / 142
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Donovan Draper, 2024-pres    8th / 649    11th / 137
** Steals began being tracked with the 1982-83 season

Kehoe on the Boards
•    Aidan Kehoe set a Navy record in 2024-25 for the most offensive boards by a Mid in a season.

Most Offensive Rebounds / Season (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    Pts.    Player, Year    
1.    115    Aidan Kehoe, 2025
2.    109    David Robinson, 1987

•    Kehoe also ranked third at Navy for the most defensive rebounds in a season with his effort last year.

Most Defensive Rebounds / Season (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    DR    Player, Year    
1.    269    David Robinson, 1987
2.    189    Donovan Draper, 2024
3.    187    Aidan Kehoe, 2025

•    He ranks among the Navy career leaders in offensive rebounding average.

Highest Career OR/G Average (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    OR/G    Player, Years    OR / G
1.    2.98    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91    255 / 101
2.    2.56    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.    202 / 79
3.    2.55    Donovan Draper, 2023-pres.    199 / 78
4.    2.53    Hassan Booker, 1995-98    331 / 111
5.    2.40    Alex Kohnen, 1993-96    252 / 205

•    This is the second year in a row in which he ranks among national leaders in all three rebounding statistics.

Kehoe Shooting
•    Aidan Kehoe ranked second at Navy for the highest field goal percentage in a single season in 2024-25.

Highest Field Goal Pct. / Season (Min. 200 FGA)
Rnk.    FG%.    Player, Years
1.    .644    David Robinson, 1985
2.    .621    Aidan Kehoe, 2025
3.    .620    Will Kelly, 2016

•    Kehoe also ranks among the Navy leaders for career field goal percentage.

Highest Field Goal Pct. / Career (Min. 300 FGA)
Rnk.    FG%.    Player, Years
1.    .628    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.
2.    .625    Evan Wieck, 2017-20
3.    .613    David Robinson, 1985-88

•    Kehoe ranks among the NCAA leaders for field goal percentage this season.

Highest Field Goal Pct. / 2025-26
Rnk.    FG%.    Player, School
1.    .812    Cooper Bowser, Furman
2.    .712    Michael Nwoko, LSU
3.    .700    Armani Mighty, Mercer
4.    .690    Ven-Allen Lubin, North Carolina State
5.    .689    Aidan Kehoe, Navy
6.    .669    Braden Huff, Gonzaga

Kehoe's 20-Point Double-Doubles
•    Aidan Kehoe has posted five double-doubles this season, three of which saw him score at least 20 points.
•    Those three double-doubles with at least 20 points ranks third at Navy for the most by a Mid in a season during the post-David Robinson era (who had 16, 20 and 18 such double-doubles in his last three seasons).

Most 20-Point Double-Doubles in a Season
Post-David Robinson Era (1987-88 to present)
Rnk.    No.    Player, Years
1.    4    Hassan Booker, 1997-98
    4    Greg Sprink, 2007-08
3.    3    Eddie Reddick, 1989-90
    3    Eddie Reddick, 1990-91
    3    Aidan Kehoe, 2025-26