Bucknell (4-11 / 1-1) at Navy (10-5 / 2-0)
Wednesday, Jan. 7  I  7 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
•    Austin Benigni has totaled 115 career points in seven games against Bucknell.  This includes 108 points in the last five games.  Bucknell's current team as a whole has totaled 117 points in games played (24) against Navy.
•    Wednesday's game will be the 39th Navy-Bucknell game to be played in Alumni Hall.  That ties the Army-Navy series for the most games played by the Mids against an opponent in the facility.
•    Navy has played more games against Bucknell since the Mids joined the Patriot League in 1991-92 than any opponent.  Wednesday's game will be the 78th in this era.  The Mids have played 75 games against Colgate.
•    Navy has scored 1,220 points against Bucknell and the Bison have scored 1,223 points against the Mids over the last 18 games of the series (starting with March 5, 2017).
•    Aidan Kehoe made 12-straight field goal attempts from the second half of the Boston U game (4-4) into the second half of the Holy Cross game (8-8).  His career best is 17 in a row.

Game Information
•    Navy returns to Annapolis to start a week of back-to-back home games with a Wednesday night (7 p.m.) game against Bucknell in Alumni Hall.
•    ESPN+ will provide a video stream of the game 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
•    Austin Benigni and Aidan Kehoe combined for 41 points in a 65-58 victory at Holy Cross on Saturday.
•    The Crusaders scored the opening five points of the game, but the Mids responded by taking a 17-11 lead.
•    The margin grew to 26-17 before Navy went into halftime holding a 28-21 cushion.
•    The lead expanded to 36-23 in the early stages of the second half before it became a four-point game at 44-40 and 46-42.
•    The Mids regained a 55-47 lead and, thanks to timely foul shooting, led by at least five points over the rest of the game.
•    Kehoe started the game 8-8 from the floor and ended it 9-10 to total 18 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.
•    Bengni was 8-8 from the foul line in the second half and 11-11 for the game in scoring 23 points.
•    Navy shot 48 percent from the floor -- despite going 2-12 from three-point range --and held the Crusaders to 36.4 percent.

Bucknell Preview
•    Bucknell travels to Annapolis with an overall record of 4-11 and a Patriot League mark of 1-1.
•    The Bison have dropped games to Princeton, Hofstra, Pittsburgh, Iowa and Holy Cross and posted a 72-65 win over Lehigh on Saturday.

Series History
•    Navy and Bucknell first met on Jan. 31, 1920, and sporadically played 16 games against one another from then until both were members of the Patriot League starting in the 1991-92 season.
•    Navy's inaugural Patriot League game was a Jan. 11, 1992, game in Annapolis against Bucknell.
•    The Bison hold a 48-45 advantage in the overall series with the Mids.  Navy leads Bucknell, 35-15, in games played in Annapolis, which includes a 23-15 advantage in games played in Alumni Hall.
•    Bucknell is in front of the Mids, 39-29, in league regular season games.  However, Navy leads Bucknell, 20-14, in league games played on The Yard.
•    The Bison have won four-straight league regular season games played in the series, but the Mids won the most recent pairing of the teams, an 83-77 victory in Lewisburg in the semifinal round of the 2025 league tourney.

Series Trends
•    The team leading at halftime has posted just a 3-3 record in the last six games but an 11-5 record in the last 16 (one tie).
•    The team making more three-point field goals has compiled a 2-3 record in the last seven games (two ties) and a 5-6 record in the last 13 games (two ties).
•    The team grabbing more rebounds has tallied only a 2-4 record in the last six games but also a 10-4 record in the last 14 games
•    The team committing fewer turnovers has posted a 6-3 record in the last 10 games (one tie) and an 8-9 record in the last 19 games (two ties).

Series of Streaks
•    The Navy-Bucknell series has consistently had extensive winning streaks compiled by each team.

1-31-1920 to 2-18-1964 / Navy, 12-1 (began with 10 wins)
2-10-1967 to 2-17-1993 / BU, 7-0
1-22-1994 to 1-12-2002 / Navy, 15-5 (ended with 6 wins)
2-06-2002 to 1-11-2008 / BU, 11-2 (ended with 7 wins)
2-9-2008 to 2-5-2010 / Navy, 5-1
1-8-2011 to 1-30-2019 / BU, 19-1 (ended with 11 wins)
2-27-2019 to 2-8-2023 / Navy, 9-0
1-24-2024 to 3-9-2025 / BU, 4-1 (began with 4 wins)

A Look Ahead
•    Navy closes a span in which it plays six of seven games at home Saturday when Lafayette comes to Alumni Hall.

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 292-190 record in the facility.  This includes a 139-112 record in Patriot League regular season games.
•    There have been 61 future NBA players to play in Alumni Hall since it opened.

Patriot League Players of the Week 
•    Navy has received a trio of Patriot League Player-of-the-Week accolades this season.
•    Austin Benigni earned the award on Dec. 8 after he averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in Navy's wins over Delaware State and Air Force.
•    Aidan Kehoe garnered his first career weekly award on Dec. 22 after he averaged 15.5 points and 11.0 rebounds a game in wins over Coppin State and Rosemont College.
•    Benigni was tabbed for his second nod of the season and sixth of his career on Jan. 5 following a week that saw him average 25.0 points, 6.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds a game in wins over Boston and Holy Cross.

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 +1,081 in offensive rebounding margin over the last 12 seasons.
•    Navy has regularly turned those second-chance opportunities into points.  The Mids are +964 in second-chance points scored over the last 12 seasons.

Three-Point Plays 
•    Austin Benigni and Donovan Draper lead the team for the most career three-point play opportunities.  Aidan Kehoe and Benigni lead the team in such chances this season.
•    Benigni has had at least one three-point play opportunity in 37 career games, as well as in 32 of the 80 games since the start of his sophomore year.

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, 2025, game against Coppin State. 
•    He ranks among the Navy scoring leaders for both all games and Patriot League games.

Navy Career Scoring List -- All Games
Rnk.    Pts.    Player, Years
1.    2,669    David Robinson, 1984-87
--------------------------------------------------
5.    1,635    Chris Harris, 2007-10
6.    1,590    Mike Heary, 1995-98
7.    1,574    Austin Benigni, 2023-pres.

Navy Career Scoring List -- Patriot League Games
Rnk.    Pts.    Player, Years
1.    937    Greg Sprink, 2005-08
2.    811    Chris Harris, 2007-10
3.    780    Austin Benigni, 2023-pres.

•    Benigni is in a tie for seventh place at Navy with 76 games of scoring in double figures and is in a tie for fifth place with 34 career games with 20 or more points.  

10-Point Games - Career
Rnk.    No.    Player, Years
1.    108    David Robinson, 1984-87
2.    98    Vernon Butler, 1983-86
3.    85    Greg Sprink, 2005-08
4.    83    Kevin Sinnett, 1976-79
5.    78    Chris Harris, 2007-10
    78    Kaleo Kina, 2006-09
7.    76    Chris Williams, 1998-01
    76    Austin Benigni, 2023-pres.

20-Point Games - Career
Rnk.    No.    Player, Years
1.    68    David Robinson, 1984-87
2.    46    John Clune, 1952-54
3.    40    Vernon Butler, 1983-86
4.    36    Greg Sprink, 2005-08
5.    34    Don Lange, 1952-54
    34    Austin Benigni, 2023-pres.

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.

Benigni in Annual NCAA Rankings for FT Shooting
        2023-24    2024-25    2025-26
FTM    22nd    5th    5th
FTA    38th    5th    20th
FT%    96th    56th    56th

•    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.    550    PJ Haggerty, Kansas State
2.    541    Austin Benigni, Navy
3.    532    Freddy Hicks, Tarleton State

Active NCAA Career Leaders for FTA
Rnk.    FTA    Player, School
1.    727    Freddy Hicks, Tarleton State
2.    701    PJ Haggerty, Kansas State
3.    663    Ezra Ausar, USC
4.    654    Graham Ike, Gonzaga
5.    629    Austin Benigni, Navy

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

Most Free Throws Made in a Season at Navy (all)
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 (all)
Rnk.    FTM    Player, Year
1.    605    David Robinson, 1984-87
2.    568    Vernon Butler, 1983-86
3.    541    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.    541    Austin Benigni, Navy, 2023-pres.

Most Free Throws Made - Career at Navy (PL Games)
Rnk.    FTM    Player, Year 
1.    258    Austin Benigni, 2023-pes.
2.    245    Greg Sprink, 2007-10

Most Free Throws Attempted - Season at Navy (all)
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 (all)
Rnk.    FTA    Player, Years
1.    964    David Robinson, 1984-87
2.    777    Vernon Butler, 1983-86
3.    629    Austin Benigni, 2023-pres.

Career Free Throws Att. - Service Academy Players
Rnk.    FTA    Player, School, Years
1.    964    David Robinson, Navy, 1984-87
2.    777    Vernon Butler, Navy, 1983-86
3.    748    Kevin Houston, Army, 1984-87
4.    681    Otis Jones, Air Force, 1992-95
5.    648    Gary Winton, Army, 1975-78
6.    629    Austin Benigni, Navy, 2023-pres.

Most Free Throws Att. - Career at Navy (PL Games)
Rnk.    FTA    Player, Year
1.    308    Austin Benigni, 2023-pes.
2.    297    Shawn Anderson, 2015-18

•    Benigni ranks among the Navy and Patriot League 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

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
•     Austin Benigni typically has led the Mids in either points or assists –– and occasionally both –– in a game, especially since the start of his 2024-25 season.  He has led the Mids in both stats in 38 games.
•     Benigni has totaled both 10 or more points and 5 or more assists in 31 career games.
•     Benigni is the second Mid with 1,500 points and 300 assists in a career and the first 1,500 / 400 assist Mid.

Mids with 1,000 Points and 300 Assists / Career
Player, Years    Points    Assists
Kaleo Kina, 2006-09    1,528    392
Austin Benigni, 2023-pres.    1,574    403

•     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
--------------------------------------------------
7.    421    Mickey Hampton, 1973-75
8.    403    Austin Benigni, 2023-pres.

•     Benigni is one of eight active players who have only played on the NCAA Division I level with both 1,500 points and 400 assists.

Active NCAA Players with 1,500 Points and 400 Assists  
(only played on the Division I level)
Player, School    Points    Assists
Nijel Peck, Oklahoma    1,972    411
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State    1,775    467
Boopie Miller, SMU    1,668    543
Jacari Lane, Texas A&M    1,585    543
Donovan Dent, UCLA    1,576    577
Braden Smith, Purdue    1,552    893
Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee    1,510    466
Austin Benigni, Navy    1,574    403

•     He is the seventh Patriot League player -- during each team's Patriot League era -- with 1,500 points and 400 assists. 

Patriot League Players with 1,500 Points and 400 Assists (league era only)
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
Austin Benigni, Navy, 2023-pres    1,574    403

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
--------------------------------------------------
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)
--------------------------------------------------
6.    160    David Robinson, 1984-87 (127)
7.    142    Hassan Booker, 1995-98 (101)
8.    140    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres. (80)

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.    1.75    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.
7.    1.74    Brian Walker, 1994-97

•    Navy has scored on 102 of the 199 possessions (51.3%) in which he has grabbed an offensive rebound.
•    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
--------------------------------------------------
8.    209    Francis Ebong, 2000-03
9.    206    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.
10.    204    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.    2.55    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.    204 / 80
3.    2.54    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.    206 / 81

Most Career Defensive Rebounds (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    DR    Player, Years
1.    544    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91
2.    454    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.

Highest Career DR/G Average (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    OR/G    Player, Years    DR / G
1.    5.68    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.    454 / 80
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 (All Games)
Rnk.    Rebs.    Player, Years (games)
1.    1,314    David Robinson, 1984-87 (127)
--------------------------------------------------
7.    702    Larry Wigley, 1952-55 (85)
8.    658    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres. (80)

Most Career Rebounds (PL Games)
Rnk.    Rebs.    Player, Years
1.    348    Worth Smith, 2012-15
2.    342    Greg Summers, 2019-22
3.    335    Tom Lacey, 2015-18
4.    325    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.

•    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.    688    658

•     Draper is the third Mid to rank among Navy's 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
Donovan Draper, 2024-pres    8th / 658    7th / 140
** 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 rebounds and offensive rebounding average.

Most Career Offensive Rebounds (since 1986-87)
Rnk.    OR    Player, Years
1.    331    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91

8.    209    Francis Ebong, 2000-03
9.    206    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.
10.    204    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.    2.55    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.    204 / 80
3.    2.54    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.    206 / 81

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.    .636    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.
2.    .625    Evan Wieck, 2017-20
3.    .613    David Robinson, 1985-88

Highest Field Goal Pct. / Career - PL  (Min. 150 FGA)
Rnk.    FG%.    Player, Years
1.    .618    Evan Wieck, 2017-20
2.    .612    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.
3.    .610    Richard Njoku, 2019-22

•    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.    .722    Caleb Walker, Air Force
3.    .711    Michael Nwoko, LSU
4.    .706    Aidan Kehoe, Navy
5.    .682    Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan

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