Colgate (17-13 / 11-6) at Navy (24-6 / 16-1)
Saturday, Feb. 28  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
•    Navy is the No. 1 seed for the Patriot League Tournament and Colgate will be either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed.
•    Navy will begin its Senior Day ceremony for the Class of 2026 at 3:40 p.m.  The class has totaled 4,141 points and 2,208 rebounds in 470 career games and recorded 70 victories (the most since the Class of 2001 won 81 games).
•    Colgate ranks first (70) and Navy second (57) in Patriot League regular season wins since the start of the 2021-22 season.
•    Navy's 24 overall wins this year are the most for any Navy team that did not have David Robinson on the roster.
•    Aidan Kehoe leads the NCAA in field goal percentage (73.4%), is second in total rebounds (328) and tied for third in double-doubles (17). 

Game Information
•    The final game of the 2026 Patriot League regular season features Navy playing host to Colgate in a 4 p.m. game in Alumni Hall.
•    ESPN+ will stream the game and WNAV will provide radio coverage.
•    Navy's Senior Day ceremony will start at 3:40 p.m.
•    First Command is sponsoring the game.

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 U.S. government issued passport). Visitors ages 17 and younger without a valid picture ID must be accompanied by an adult. Foreign passports are not permitted for general access.

A Look Back
•    After a little bit of a slow start, Navy took control of its game Wednesday at Loyola with 78-51 victory.
•    The Greyhounds started the game 5-6 from the floor in taking an 11-5 lead after four minutes.
•    Navy with a 9-0 run on its way to eventually taking a 41-22 lead and then a 43-25 advantage at the half.
•    Loyola was 5-23 from the floor in the rest of the half.
•    Jinwoo Kim scored Navy's first 10 points of the second half as the Mids soon opened up a 55-28 lead.
•    Navy shot over 50 percent from the field in each half and made 10 three-point field goals.  The Mids held Loyola to a 7-22 (21.9%) effort from three-point range and a 31.6 percent showing overall.
•    Kim tied a career high with 25 points and Austin Benigni made four three-point field goals in scoring 22 points.
•    Aidan Kehoe tallied 10 points, 16 rebounds and six assists.

Mids Earn First Outright PL Title Since 1997
•    Navy's Feb. 18 win over Lehigh earned the Mids the outright 2026 regular season title in the Patriot League.  
•    This is the sixth time in which Navy has earned at least a share of the Patriot League title (last was in 1990-00) and the ninth time in which the Mids have at least shared a conference crown.
•    Navy has previously won outright titles in 1985-86 (CAA), 1986-87 (CAA) and 1996-97 (Patriot League).

Playoff Picture
•    Navy will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament.
•    Colgate will be the No. 2 seed with either a win by the Raiders over the Mids or a Lehigh loss at home to Bucknell.  Otherwise, Colgate will be seeded third.

Atop the Standings 
•     The Navy men's and women's basketball teams are each in first place in the Patriot League.  Navy is one of 11 schools to have both men's and women's teams have at least a share of first place.

Mid-Major Top-25 Poll
•    Navy appeared in this week's College Insider Mid-Major Top-25 Poll for the first time this season.  The Mids were ranked 22nd in the poll that was released on Feb. 23.  Navy was ranked 24th in the Jan. 18, 2021, poll in what is believed to be the only other time the Mids were ranked since its inception in 1999-00.
•     The Mids also are ranked 25th in this week's MidMajorBasketball.com Top 25-Rankings.
•    Additionally, Navy received one vote in this week's Associated Press Poll.  The Mids last received a vote in a national poll in 2008.

Colgate Preview
•    Colgate travels to Annapolis with an overall record of 17-13 and a record of 6-8 in true road games.
•    The Raiders have posted an 11-6 record in league games, which includes a 5-3 record at the road.
•    Colgate fell, 70-69, Wednesday night at home to Lafayette. 
•    The Raiders have played four overtime games in their last 10 games, one of which was against Navy two weeks ago.  They also went to overtime last week against Loyola, winning 101-98.
•    Colgate has put together an 8-5 record in league games decided by single digits, including a 5-5 mark in games determined by no more than five points and a 3-3 record in games decided by either one (1-3), two (1-0) or three (1-0) points.

Series History
•    Navy and Colgate played four games against one another prior to both being part of the Patriot League with the 1991-92 season.  They first met on Dec. 29, 1950, when Colgate won a 63-59 game in Raleigh, N.C.
•    Colgate holds a 49-31 advantage in the overall series.  This includes a 20-16 lead in games played at Navy.
•    The Raiders also are in front of the Mids 41-26 in Patriot League games.  That mark includes a 19-14 edge in games played on The Yard.
•    Navy snapped a 13-game skid to Colgate when the Mids won an 84-80 overtime game earlier this year.  It also ended a decade-long losing streak for Navy at Hamilton (10 games).
•    The Mids have not defeated the Raiders in Annapolis since the 2018-19 season (five games).

Navy 84, Colgate 80 (OT)
•    Navy stopped several streaks with an 84-80 overtime victory at Colgate on Feb. 14.
•    The Mids raced out to a 36-18 first-half lead only to see the Raiders take a 56-55 lead midway through the second half.
•    That was the first of 10 second half lead changes.
•    Navy regained a 77-73 lead with 51.7 seconds left, but was held scoreless the rest of the way and Colgate tied the game and forced overtime.
•    The teams were a combined 1-10 from the floor in overtime, with Navy being 5-6 from the foul line and Colgate 3-6.  Four of those free throws came from Austin Benigni in the last 7 seconds.
•    Five Mids scored in double figures with Jordan Pennick leading the way with 22 points and Donovan Draper scoring 20.  Colgate's Jalen Cox led all players with 30 points, 22 of which came in the second half.

A Look Ahead
•    Navy will play host to the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament on Thursday, March 5.  The Mids will face the winner of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 first round game that will be played Tuesday, March 3.

Service Assignments Announced
•    Seniors at the USNA learned of their service assignments upon graduating from Navy this spring during lunch on Thursday, Nov. 20.
•    Those entering the Navy will do so with the rank of Ensign and those entering the Marine Corps will be 2nd Lieutenants.
•    The seniors on the men's basketball team received the following assignments:

Austin Benigni - Navy aviation (pilot)
Cam Cormany - Navy aviation (flight officer)
Donovan Draper - Navy information warfare
Aidan Kehoe - Navy surface warfare (nuclear)
Sam Krist - Marine Corps ground
Mike Woods - Navy surface warfare

•    Mike Woods selected the USS Fort Lauderdale for his first ship assignment.  LPD 28 (landing platform dock) is an amphibious transport dock ship based in Norfolk, Va.
•    Aidan Kehoe selected the USS Essex for his first ship.  LHD 2 (landing helicopter dock) is an amphibious assault ship with a home port of San Diego.

Navy Leading in Assist Percentage
•    Navy has been credited with 291 assists on its 457 made field goals during the Patriot League season.  That's an assist percentage of 63.7 percent, which leads the league and is one of the best in Navy history.

11th 20-Win Season
•    Navy's Feb. 9 win at Bucknell was the team's 20th of the season.  This is the 11th 20-win campaign in program history and the most by a Navy team that did not have David Robinson on the roster.

Navy Sets School Mark for Most PL Wins
•    With 16 wins, Navy has set the school record for the most Patriot League regular season wins since the league went to an 18-game season starting with the 2013-14 season (not including 2020-21).
•    The 2021-22 team held the prior mark with 12 wins.
•    A win by Navy would match Colgate's 17-1 record in 2023 for the most in an 18-game season.

Navy Second in PL Wins Over Half Decade
•    Navy ranks second in the Patriot League for league regular season wins over the last five seasons.

PL W-L Records, 2021-22 to 2025-26
1.    70-19     Colgate
2.    57-32    Navy
3.    48-41    Boston
4.    46-43    Lehigh
5.    44-45    American
6.    40-49    Army
7.    39-50    Bucknell
8.    38-51    Lafayette
9.    33-56    Loyola
10.    30-59    Holy Cross

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 299-190 record in the facility.  This includes a 146-112 record in Patriot League regular season games.
•    There have been 61 future NBA players to play in Alumni Hall since it opened.

Five Patriot League Player-of-the-Week Nods 
•    Navy has received a five Patriot League Player-of-the-Week accolades this season. Those are the most awards since it accrued a school-best six in 2009-10.
•    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.
•    Kehoe received his second laurel on Feb. 9.  He led Navy in points (38), rebounds (25) and assists (11) and shot 83.3 percent (15-18) from the floor in Navy's wins over Lafayette and American the previous week.  
•    Benigni garnered his third award on Feb. 23 after he total 52 points and 10 assists against Lehigh and Army.

Mids Well Ahead in Points in the Paint
•    Navy has scored more points in the paint in 14 of its 17 (one tie) league games this season.  The Mids are averaging just over nine more paint points a game than their foes.

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.
•    The Mids are +1,031 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 and 12 in Navy's Feb. 9 game at Bucknell.
•    Navy has scored on 40 of the 59 (67.8%) possessions in which Kehoe has grabbed at least one offensive board since the start of the Patriot League season.  The Mids have scored 70 points off of his offensive rebounds in league play.

500-Point Seasons
•    Austin Benigni scored 526 points during his 2023-24 sophomore season and 638 points in 2024-25 as a junior to became the fourth Mid to have scored 500 points in multiple seasons.  
•    He has scored 547 points in 2025-26 to join David Robinson as the only Mids with three 500-point seasons.

Benigni Surpasses 1,800 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, scored his 1,700th point Jan. 24 against Army and posted his 1,800th point Feb. 18 against Lehigh.
•    Benigni ranks among the Navy scoring leaders for both all games and Patriot League games.
•    He also ranks 11th in Patriot League history in career points.
•    Benigni scored his 1,000th point in Patriot League regular season games Feb. 18 against Lehigh.
•    Benigni is in third place at Navy with 90 games of scoring in double figures and third place with 41 career games with 20 or more points.  

3-Point Progression
•    One of the reasons behind Benigni's scoring success this season has been his improved three-point shooting.
•    He made 59 three-point baskets in his first three seasons and has made 55 this 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 (1st) and attempted (T-4th).
•    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 (1st) and Patriot League (3rd) 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 (40).
•     Benigni has totaled both 10 or more points and 5 or more assists in 35 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.
•    He leads the team in both statistics this year.
•     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 (5th).
•    He is the first Mid to have three seasons with both 400 points and 100 assists.
•     Benigni is one of five active players who have only played on the NCAA Division I level with both 1,800 points and 400 assists.
•     He is the second Patriot League player -- during each team's Patriot League era -- with 1,800 points and 400 assists. 
•     Benigni is one of three players to rank in the Patriot League's top-20 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 ranked second in the Patriot League and ranked 32nd nationally with an average of 35:50 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.

Kehoe's Shooting Among the NCAA Leaders
•    Aidan Kehoe ranks first among all NCAA Division I players in field goal percentage this season.
•    Kehoe has not only attempted the most shots of those who rank among the top-five in field goal percentage, he also has dished out the most assists. 

Highest Field Goal Pct. / 2025-26
Rnk.    FG%.    Player, School 
1.    .734    Aidan Kehoe, Navy (196-267)
2.    .690    Ben Defty, Boston U. (167-242)
3.    .676    Ven-Allen Lubin, NC St. (150-222)
4.    .661    Max Frazer, CCSU (144-218)
5.    .660    Collin Kuhl, Stetson (157-238)

•    Kehoe was 10-10 from the floor in Navy's Jan. 10 game against Lafayette.  That effort immediately followed the Jan. 7 game in which he was 8-9 from the floor against Bucknell.
•    Kehoe then was 11-11 from the field against Loyola on Jan. 31.
•    The 11-11 effort tied the Patriot League record for the most made field goals without a missed shot.
•    Kehoe ranked second at Navy for the highest field goal percentage in a single season in 2024-25, and he has thus far bettered that in 2025-26.
•     Kehoe currently holds the top mark for the highest field goal percentage in a season by a Patriot League player.

Kehoe and Draper -- Double-Doubles
•    Aidan Kehoe and Donovan Draper each rank among the Navy leaders in career double-doubles, with Kehoe also ranking among the leaders for the most in a year. 

Most Double-Doubles - Career at Navy
Rnk.    No.    Player, Years
1.    74    David Robinson, 1984-87
------------------------------------------------
4.    34    Kevin Sinnett, 1976-79
5.    25    Aidan Kehoe, 2023-pres.
6.    24    Eddie Reddick, 1988-91
7.    23    Hank Kuzma, 1975-78
8.    22    Chris Reddington, 1964-66
9.    21    Hassan Booker, 1995-98
10.    19    Jay Metzler, 1958-60
11.    16    Donovan Draper, 2024-pres.

Most Double-Doubles - Season at Navy
Rnk.    No.    Player, Years
1.    31    David Robinson, 1986
2.    21    David Robinson, 1987
3.    20    David Robinson, 1985
4.    18    Don Lange, 1954
5.    17    Don Lange, 1953
    17    Aidan Kehoe, 2026

•    Kehoe is tied for third place nationally for the most double-doubles this season.

Most 2025-26 Double-Doubles 
Rnk.    No.    Player, Team
1.    21    Delrecco Gillespie, Kent State
2.    18    Justin Neely, UNCG
3.    17    Aidan Kehoe, Navy
    17    Izaiyah Nelson, South Florida
    17    Hannes Steinbach, Washington

•    Kehoe has posted double-doubles in each of the last seven games. That is one of the longest runs of double-doubles by a Mid.  

Most Double-Doubles in a Row at Navy
Rnk.    No.    Player (Dates)
1.    15    David Robinson (2-12-86 to 11-29-86)
2.    11    Don Lange (1-27-54 to 3-12-54)
3.    8    David Robinson (1-4-86 to 1-23-86)
4.    7    Don Lange (1-28-53 to 2-18-53)
    7    David Robinson (2-14-85 to 3-7-85)
    7    David Robinson (11-22-85 to 12-21-85)
    7    Aidan Kehoe (2-4-26 to current)

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.
•    Draper now ranks sixth at Navy and Kehoe ninth for the most career caroms.
•    Draper and Kehoe are two of the eight Mids to have totaled both 800 points and 700 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 second 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 and steals per game.
•    Draper is the third Mid to rank among Navy's top-10 players in both career rebounds and steals.

More Minutes for Cole
•    Cam Cole has moved into a more prominent role in the rotation since the start of the Patriot League season.
•    He has surpassed all of the career totals he had recorded through the start of this season.