Men's Basketball | 1/30/2026 4:06:00 PM

Loyola (8-14 / 4-5) at Navy (16-6 / 8-1)
Saturday, Jan. 31  I  4 p.m.  I  Alumni Hall  I  Annapolis, Md.

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

Five Starting Notes
•    Loyola players have scored 122 career points in games against the Mids and Navy players have scored 308 points in games played against the Greyhounds. 
•    Navy ranks first in the league during the league season in rebounding (37.0 rpg) and Loyola is second (36.4 rpg). 
•    Loyola has made more three-point field goals than Navy in each of the last nine games played between the teams.  Loyola has made 72 triples and Navy 44 in this span.
•    Nine of the last 12 Navy-Loyola games have been decided by single digits.  Those 12 games have been decided by an average of 6.7 points per game.
•    Navy faced the team which plays at the slowest tempo in the Patriot League on Wednesday (Boston, 63.4 / 347th) and now will play the team which plays at the fastest tempo Saturday (68.2 / 130th).  The Mids rank eighth in the league and 283rd nationally at 65.3 possessions per 40 minutes.

Game Information
•    Navy returns to Annapolis Saturday when the Mids play host to Loyola in a 4 p.m. game in Alumni Hall
•    ESPN+ will stream the game and it also will be carried on WNAV.
•    The game is presented by Luminis Health.

A Look Back
•    Boston scored the first 14 points of the game, but Navy rallied from that early deficit to post a 58-50 victory at Boston Wednesday night.
•    Navy drew to within two points late in the first half before going into the break trailing 27-21.
•    The Mids started the second half on a 7-0 run to take a 28-27 lead.
•    Boston soon took a 33-28 lead, but Navy scored the next 15 points to build a 43-33 advantage.
•    Back came the Terriers and it was a 49-47 Navy lead with four minutes left.  The Mids scored the next seven points in a span of 65 seconds to finally build a cushion.
•    Navy attempted only two free throws in the game, and those came with 28.1 seconds left.  Boston was 6-9 from the foul line.
•    The Mids shot 54 percent from the field after halftime and held Boston to a 32-percent effort.
•    Austin Benigni totaled 14 of his 20 points in the second half and also finished with five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.

Loyola Preview
•    Loyola makes the short drive from Baltimore with an overall record of 8-14.  The Greyhounds have tallied a 1-9 record in true road games this season.
•    Loyola has posted a 4-5 record in Patriot League play, which includes a 1-3 record in league road games.
•    The Greyhounds have won each of their last and three of their last four games.  Most recently, Loyola posted a 77-68 win over American Saturday in Baltimore.

Series History
•    Navy holds a 38-13 advantage in the series with Loyola, which began during the 1909-10 season.
•    The Mids lead the Greyhounds, 23-5, in games played in Annapolis, which includes a 13-3 lead in games played in Alumni Hall.
•    The teams have been fellow members of the Patriot League since the 2013-14 season.  In that time Navy leads Loyola, 17-8, in league regular season games, which includes an 11-2 advantage in such games that have been played on The Yard.

Series Trends
•    Nine of the last 12 and 16 of the last 20 league regular season games played between the teams have been determined by single digits.
•    The team leading at halftime has posted a 16-4 record over the last 22 games (two games tied).  However, the team trailing at halftime won both 2025 games.
•    Loyola has made more three-point field goals than Navy in each of the last nine and 10 of the last 11 games.
•    Since Loyola joined the Patriot League, the team making more three-point field goals has posted a 15-11 record (one game tied).
•    The team grabbing more rebounds has compiled a 14-6 record over the last 20 games.
•    The team committing fewer turnovers has posted a 2-9 record over the last 11 games, as well as a 12-12 record over the last 27 games (three games tied).

A Look Ahead
•    Navy will make its second trip of the season to the Lehigh Valley for a Wednesday game at Lafayette.

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 296-190 record in the facility.  This includes a 143-112 record in Patriot League regular season games.
•    There have been 61 future NBA players to play in Alumni Hall since it opened.

Few Free Throws at Boston
•    Navy entered the Jan. 28 game at Boston leading the Patriot League and ranked 93rd nationally with an average of 23.1 free throw attempts a game.
•    The Mids went to the foul line just one time, and that was with 28.1 seconds remaining.  Austin Benigni made both foul shots on that lone trip.
•    It was one the lowest free throw attempt totals in Navy history.

Fewest Free Throw Attempts (since 1951-52)
1.    1    at UMBC,Dec. 30, 2013
2.    2    Bucknell, March 2, 2013
    2    at Boston, Jan. 28, 2026

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 +1,086 in offensive rebounding margin over the last 12 seasons.
•    Navy has regularly turned those second-chance opportunities into points. 
•    The Mids are +1,005 in second-chance points over the last 12 years.
•    Aidan Kehoe had 15 second-chance points in Navy's double overtime win at Lehigh on Jan. 17.

Benigni Named to Lou Henson Award Watch List
•     Austin Benigni was named to the Lou Henson Award Watch List earlier this season.
•    The award, presented by CollegeInsider.com, is given annually to the top mid-major player in the country.

500-Point Seasons
•    Austin Benigni scored 526 points during his 2023-24 sophomore season and 638 points in 2024-25 as a junior. 
•    He became the fourth Mid to have scored 500 points in multiple seasons.
•    His 638 points a year ago ranks among the most by a Mid for a season.

Benigni Surpasses 1,700 Points
•    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  (12th fewest games needed to score 1,000 points).
•    He then reached the 1,500-point plateau during Navy's Dec. 19, 2025, game against Coppin State, surpassed 1,600 points Jan 10 against Lafayette and scored his 1,700th point Jan. 24 against Army
•    He ranks among the Navy scoring leaders for both all games (fourth) and Patriot League games (second).
•    Benigni ranks 21st in Patriot League history in career points.
•    Benigni is tied for fourth place at Navy with 83 games of scoring in double figures and fourth place with 38 career games with 20 or more points.  
•    With 930 points, he is eight points away from break the Navy record for the most career points in league regular season games (937, Greg Sprink, 2005-08).

3-Point Progression
•    One of the reasons behind Benigni's scoring success this season has been his improved three-point shooting.
•    He has made more three-point baskets through 22 games this year than he made in 34 games last season.

At the FT Line – Austin Benigni
•    This is the third season in a row in which Austin Benigni ranks among the NCAA leaders in all three free throw shooting statistics.
•    He ranks among the NCAA's active career leaders in both free throws made (second) and attempted (fifth).
•    He also ranks among the Navy and service academy leaders for the most foul shots made and attempted in a season and career.
•    Benigni ranks among the Navy (first) and Patriot League (third) leaders for career free throw percentage.

Benigni Leading in Points and Assists
•     Austin Benigni typically has led the Mids in either points or assists –– and occasionally both –– in a game, especially since the start of his 2023-24 season.  He has done so six times this season and 39 times in his career.
•     Benigni has totaled both 10 or more points and 5 or more assists in 33 career games.
•     Benigni became the third Mid to lead the team in total points and assists in multiple seasons since assists began being tracked with the 1972-73 season.
•     Benigni is the second Mid with 1,500 points and 300 assists in a career and the first 1,600 / 400 Mid.
•     He ranks among the Navy leaders for career assists (seventh).
•     Benigni is one of five active players who have only played on the NCAA Division I level with both 1,700 points and 400 assists.
•     He is the third Patriot League player -- during each team's Patriot League era -- with 1,700 points and 400 assists. 
•     Benigni is one of four players to rank in the Patriot League's top-25 lists in both points and assists.
•     Benigni is one of three Mids to rank among Navy's top-10 statistical leaders in both career points and assists.

Benigni Among Minutes Played Leaders
•     Austin Benigni enters the game leading the Patriot League and ranked 32nd nationally with an average of 35:34 of playing time a game this season.
•    He has played all 40 minutes this season against Southeastern Louisiana, Air Force, both games against Boston and all 50 minutes at Lehigh.
•    He ranks among the Navy leaders for the most minutes played in a career (third).

Draper and Kehoe -- Double-Doubles
•    Donovan Draper (11th) and Aidan Kehoe (10th) each rank among the Navy leaders in career double-doubles.
 
Kehoe's 20-Point Double-Doubles
•    Aidan Kehoe has posted 10 double-doubles this season, six of which saw him score at least 20 points.
•    He is in a tie for seventh place at Navy for the most 20-point double-doubles in a season with six.

Kehoe's 21-21 Double-Double
•    Aidan Kehoe recorded 21 points and 21 rebounds -- 11 offensive -- in Navy's double overtime win at Lehigh on Jan. 17.
•    Kehoe is the fifth Mid to have recorded a 20-20 game and the first since David Robinson went for 45 and 20 at James Madison on Jan. 10, 1987.
•    Kehoe broke his own Navy record for the most rebounds by a Mid in a Patriot League game (20) and tied the school record (since 1986-87) for the most offensive rebounds in a game.

Draper and Kehoe -- Rebounds
•    Aidan Kehoe set a Navy record in 2024-25 for the most offensive boards by a Mid in a season.
•    Both he and Donovan Draper rank among the Navy leaders in Navy season and career leaders in multiple rebounding categories.

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

Most Offensive Rebounds / Career (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    OR    Player, Years
1.    331    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91
---------------------------------------------
4.    247    Evan Wieck, 2017-20
5.    238    Wes Cooper, 1992-95
6.    233    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.
7.    225    Tom Lacey, 2015-18
8.    216    Worth Smith, 2012-15
    216    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.

Highest OR/G Average / Career (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    OR/G    Player, Years
1.    2.98    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91
2.    2.65    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.
3.    2.54    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.

Most Offensive Rebounds / PL Season 
Rnk.    OR    Player, Year    
1.    72    Aidan Kehoe, 2025
2.    69    Evan Wieck, 2019
3.    57    Donovan Draper, 2024

Most Offensive Rebounds / PL Career
Rnk.    OR    Player, Year    
1.    157    Evan Wieck, 2017-20
2.    129    Aidan Kehoe, 2024-pres.
3.    127    Worth Smith, 2012-15
4.    121    Wes Cooper, 1992-956
5.    118    Tom Lacey, 2015-18
6.    116    Alex Kohnen, 1993-96
7.    114    Daniel Deaver, 2020-23
    114    Donovan Draper, 2023-pres.

Most Defensive Rebounds / Season (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    DR    Player, Year    
1.    269    David Robinson, 1987
2.    193    Donovan Draper, 2025
3.    189    Donovan Draper, 2024
4.    187    Aidan Kehoe, 2025

Most Defensive Rebounds / Career (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    DR    Player, Years
1.    544    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91
2.    471    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.
3.    438    Greg Sprink, 2005-08
4.    435    Jordan Sugars, 2009-12
5.    411    John Carter Jr., 2019-22
6.    388    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.

Highest DR/G Average / Career (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    DR/G    Player, Years
1.    5.54    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.
2.    4.91    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91
3.    4.41    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.
4.    4.36    Sitapha Savane, 1998-00
5.    4.25    J.J. Avila, 2011-12

Most Defensive Rebounds / PL Season (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    Pts.    Player, Year    
1.    117    Donovan Draper, 2025
2.    112    Aidan Kehoe, 2025
3.    104    Donovan Draper, 2024

Most Defensive Rebounds / PL Career
Rnk.    DR    Player, Year    
1.    240    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.
2.    239    Greg Summers, 2019-22
3.    230    John Carter Jr., 2019-22
4.    222    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.

•    Draper is one of five Mids to have posted 500 points and 500 rebounds by the end of their junior season.
•    Draper grabbed the 600th rebound of his career Nov. 18 at North Carolina and now ranks eighth at Navy for the most career caroms.
•    He snared the 600th board of his career in his 70th game, making him the third fastest to 600 rebounds.
•    Draper and Kehoe are two of the 11 Mids to have totaled both 700 points and 600 rebounds in a career.
•    This is the second year in a row in which Kehoe ranks among NCAA leaders in all three rebounding statistics.
•    He also ranks fifth nationally in total rebounds.

Draper's Steals
•    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 (seventh) and steals per game (T-sixth).
•     Draper is the third Mid to rank among Navy's top-10 statistical leads in both career rebounds and steals**.

Kehoe's Shooting Among the NCAA Leaders
•    Aidan Kehoe ranks first among all NCAA Division I players in field goal percentage this season.

Highest Field Goal Pct. / 2025-26
Rnk.    FG%.    Player, School (FGM-A)
1.    .723    Aidan Kehoe, Navy (138-191)
2.    .700    Armani Mighty, Mercer (119-170)
3.    .693    Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan (106-152)
4.    .685    Ven-Allen Lubin, NC State (113-165)

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

Highest Field Goal Pct. / Season 
Rnk.    FG%.    Player, Years
--    .723    Aidan Kehoe, 2026
1.    .644    David Robinson, 1985
2.    .621    Aidan Kehoe, 2025
3.    .620    Will Kelly, 2016

Highest Field Goal Pct. / Career
Rnk.    FG%.    Player, Years
1.    .653    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.
2.    .625    Evan Wieck, 2017-20
3.    .613    David Robinson, 1985-88

Highest Field Goal Pct. / Season - PL
Rnk.    FG%.    Player, Years
--    .765    Aidan Kehoe, 2026
1.    .673    Evan Wieck, 2019
2.    .639    Wes Cooper, 1995

Highest Field Goal Pct. / Career - PL  
Rnk.    FG%.    Player, Years
1.    .649    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.
2.    .618    Evan Wieck, 2017-20
3.    .610    Richard Njoku, 2019-22