ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The defense for the Navy men's basketball team clamped down in overtime and the offense made some timely foul shots during the extra period as the Mids (11-18, 8-8) defeated Holy Cross (13-16, 5-11), 83-77, Sunday afternoon at Alumni Hall in Annapolis.

The overtime game was the first of the season for the Mids but the second in a row for the Crusaders.

"I thought we did some good things throughout the game," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis.  "I thought our shot selection at the end of regulation was poor and our foul shooting was not very good.  Holy Cross is a good team; they can really score. I think it was an important game for us to win.  We didn't play a very smart game at the end of regulation and we still found a way to get our focus and composure back and made some plays in the overtime."

Holy Cross took a 23-15 lead midway through the first half.  Navy regained a slim 28-27 advantage, then the lead changed hands three more times before the Crusaders took a 37-36 lead at the break.  There were six lead changes and three ties in the first half.

Jinwoo Kim was held scoreless in the first half, but he quickly scored seven points in a little more than three minutes at the start of the second half, including five during a 9-0 Navy run that gave it a 49-41 lead.  The Crusaders answered and regained a 56-55 lead with 12 minutes on the clock.

The Mids went on another short run to take a 62-56 advantage on their way to again taking an eight-point lead at 68-60 with four minutes remaining.  Back came the Crusaders and Max Green's three free throws drew to visitors to within one point at 68-67 with 1:58 still to play.  A goaltending call on the other end of the floor made it a 70-67 game with 102 seconds left.

Mike Woods grabbed a defensive rebound on the next Holy Cross possession, with Donovan Draper being fouled.  The Mids inbounded the ball and then Austin Benigni tried to thread the needle on a tight pass in the lane that went into the hands of Caleb Kenney for Holy Cross with 42 seconds left. The Crusaders took the clock down to 31.6 seconds overall and 20 on the shot clock before they call timeout.  The Mids fouled DeAndre Williams with 18.5 seconds remaining and he made both free throw attempts to make it a 70-69 score.

The Mids gave the ball to Benigni on the inbounds pass and he split the oncoming trap and scooted the ball over halfcourt before being fouled with 13.2 seconds left.  The co-record holder for career free throw percentage at Navy at the start of the day (85.76%) who was 65-70 (92.9%) from the foul line over the last 10 games, made the first attempt (71-69) but missed the second.  Holy Cross gave the ball to Max Green, who was fouled with 7.7 seconds left.  He made the first attempt, then Navy called timeout.  Green missed his second offering and the carom was grabbed by Draper who was fouled with 6.3 seconds left.  Draper, however, missed the front end of the bonus and the ball was snared by the Crusaders.  They quickly advanced the ball and eventually Green was fouled with 2.9 seconds still to play.  He made the first shot to tie the game, then Navy called timeout.  Green missed the second attempt and  Navy grabbed the rebound to send the teams to overtime for the first time in the series in seven years.

The teams exchanged baskets on the first respective possessions of the extra period (73-73), then each missed a shot on their ensuing opportunity.  Benigni was fouled, and he made both attempts to give Navy a 75-73 lead with 3:34 left to play.  Woods blocked a Holy Cross shot at the rim, but Holy Cross grabbed the offensive board.  Draper promptly stole the ball, but the Mids couldn't convert on the other end.  Pennick quickly recorded a steal deep in the lane and scored to make it a 77-73 game with 2:15 showing on the clock.  Additionally, on the play Green landed on Draper's foot after trying for the defensive rebound, with the loose ball resulting in the steal by Pennick.  Play was halted and Green had to leave the game with an ankle injury.  He did not return, having scored 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds during his 42 minutes of playing time.

When play resumed, the Crusaders gave the ball back to the Mids on a charging foul drawn by Woods with 2:02 left to play.  Benigni missed a layup for the Mids, but Draper grabbed the offensive board and scored to stretch the lead to 79-73 with 1:40 remaining.  Williams scored on the other end for Holy Cross (79-75), then the Mids missed a shot with just over one minute remaining and Holy Cross grabbing the defensive board.

Draper stepped in front of a Holy Cross pass and gave the ball to Benigni, who was fouled with 49.1 seconds showing on the clock.  Benigni made just one of his two foul shots (80-75), which was followed by Williams sinking a jumper for Holy Cross (80-77) and the Crusaders calling timeout with 42.4 seconds left.  Navy again put the ball in the hands of Benigni, who was fouled with 34.7 seconds left.  The junior guard again only made one of his two opportunities (81-77).    

Draper once again made a key defensive play as he picked the pocket of Williams.  Pennick pounced on the loose ball and gave it to Benigni who was fouled with 25.7 seconds left.  This time he made both attempts to end the game 10-14 from the foul line and account for the final points in the game.

"Guys made plays when they had to," said DeChellis of overtime. "Sometimes when you make some mistakes at the end of games you go, 'Oh gosh ...'  We kept talking at the timeout when we went into overtime of being focused; you can't control what happened in the past.  Let's go out and make the next five minutes our best five minutes of the day.  And I thought they did that."

Navy held Holy Cross to 3-9 shooting from the floor in overtime and forced five turnovers, four of which were on steals.  On the other side of the floor, the Mids were 3-7 from the field but also 6-8 from the charity stripe.

Navy ended the game shooting 46.4 percent from the floor, was 6-18 (33.3%) from three-point range and 13-21 (61.9%) from the foul line.  Holy Cross made 43.5 percent of its shots, was 7-24 (29.2%) from three-point land and 16-21 (76.2%) from the free throw line.

Holy Cross held a 43-37 lead on the glass, but committed 21 turnovers which led to 10 Navy points. The Mids turned the ball over just 10 times, which led to seven points for the Crusaders.

Benigni totaled 26 points and Pennick added 23 points.  Woods was 7-9 from the field in scoring a season-high 14 points -- he scored a season-best 11 points Wednesday at Colgate -- to go along with four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block.  Draper scored six points, but tied his career high with 16 rebounds and also posted four assists, four steals and one block.

"We had to go small," said DeChellis as to the extended playing time for Woods.  "They (Holy Cross) weren't going to pound it inside.  They shoot threes at the second highest volume in the league. I  thought he had a really good day for us."

Navy will play Wednesday at American and then play host to Loyola Saturday in the regular season finale.