No. 8 Bucknell (10-22 / 6-12) at No.1 Navy (25-6 / 17-1)
Thursday, March 5  I  7 p.m.  I  Alumni Hall  I  Annapolis, Md.
Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinal

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

Five Starting Notes
•    Navy enters the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 1 seed for the fifth time.  Bucknell is the No. 8 seed for the first time.
•    The teams are meeting in the postseason for the second year in a row and the 10th time overall (Bucknell leads 5-4).  It is the fifth tournament game between the teams in Annapolis (Navy leads 3-1) and the first in Alumni Hall since 2008.
•    Navy has posted a 15-5 record in home league tournament games.  Bucknell has tallied a 3-4 record in all tournament games played at Navy and a 7-14 record in road tournament games. 
•    Aidan Kehoe led Navy with averages of 23.0 points and 12.0 rebounds a game against Bucknell this year.
•    Amon Dörries averaged 14.0 points and Pat Curtin 12.5 points in the games against Navy.

Game Information
•    Top-seeded Navy will play host to eighth-seeded Bucknell Thursday at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament.
•    ESPN+ will stream the game from Alumni Hall and WNAV will provide 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 and ride the fan shuttle bus, which starts at 5 p.m.
•    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.  
•    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
•    Navy closed its regular season with an 85-69 victory over Colgate Feb. 28 in Alumni Hall.
•    With Sam Krist making the first start of his career on senior day and scoring seven of Navy's first nine points of the game, the Mids took an 18-8 lead after six minutes.
•    The margin grew to 36-17 before Colgate closed to within 44-38 late in the half.  Navy took a 47-40 lead at the break.
•    The Raiders made it a two-point game at 49-47 early in the second half.  The Navy lead increased to eight and decreased to three, then Navy opened up a 72-59 lead and led by double figures the rest of the game.
•    Navy shot 50 percent from the floor and held Colgate to a 41.4 percent effort.  The Mids hit 10 triples to balance out the 11 made by the Raiders.
•    Aidan Kehoe was 7-9 from the floor on his way to tallying 17 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists.  
•    Cam Cole scored 16 points, Donovan Draper also had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with 4 assists and 4 steals and Austin Benigni added 15 points and 9 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).

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 nine schools to have both men's and women's teams have at least a share of first place.
•     This is the sixth time in which one school has seen their men's and women's teams each win outright Patriot League regular season titles.

Navy in Mid-Major Poll
•    Navy has recently started to appear in several mid-major polls, and also receive votes in the AP Poll.
•    College Insider Mid-Major Top-25 Poll 
    Feb. 23 - 22nd
    March 2 - 19th
•     Mid-Major Basketball Top 25-Poll
    Feb. 23 - Received Votes
    March 2 - 23rd
•     Mid-Major Basketball Power 25
    Feb. 23 - 25th
    March 2 - 22nd
•    Associated Press Polls
    Feb. 23 - 1 vote
    March 2 - 3 votes

Bucknell Preview
•    Bucknell has posted an overall record of 10-22, which includes a 4-11 record in true road games.
•    The Bison placed eighth in the Patriot League with a record of 6-12.  That mark included a 2-7 on the road.
•    Bucknell posted a 65-55 victory over ninth-seeded Army Tuesday night in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament.
•    The Bison had lost five games in a row until winning two of their last three games, with both of those victories coming against Army.

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.
•    The Bison hold a 48-47 advantage in the overall series with the Mids.  Navy is in front, 36-15, in games played on The Yard, including a 24-15 lead in Alumni Hall.
•    Bucknell leads Navy 5-4 in league tournament games, with Navy winning three of the four games that have been played in Annapolis.

Series Trends
•    The team leading at halftime has posted just a 5-3 record in the last eight games but a 13-5 record in the last 17 (one tie).
•    The team making more three-point field goals has compiled a 3-4 record in the last nine games (two ties) and a 6-7 record in the last 15 games (two ties).
•    The team grabbing more rebounds has tallied only a 4-4 record in the last eight games but also a 12-4 record in the last 15 games
•    The team committing fewer turnovers has posted a 6-5 record in the last 12 games (one tie) and an 8-11 record in the last 21 games (two ties).

Navy 76, Bucknell 55
•    Three Mids scored at least 20 points in a game for the first time in nearly a decade as Navy posted a 76-55 win over Bucknell Jan. 7 in Annapolis.
•    Navy closed the first half on a 10-4 run and then began the second half with a 20-3 run to turn a 28-23 deficit into a 53-35 lead.
•    Jordan Pennick made a career-high seven three-point field goals in tying a career best with 23 points.
•    Aidan Kehoe was 8-9 from the floor and 4-4 from the foul line in scoring 20 points to go along with his 12 rebounds.
•    Austin Benigni tallied 23 points, six assists and six rebounds.
•    Navy shot 53.6 percent from the field in the second half and ended the game with a 42-27 rebounding lead.

Navy 76, Bucknell 60
•    Aidan Kehoe led or shared the Navy lead in points (26), rebounds (12), assists (5), steals (3) and blocks (2) in a 76-60 win by the Mids over Bucknell Feb. 9.
•    Navy used a 10-3 run to take an 18-11 lead.  The Bison closed to within 27-21 before the Mids took a 35-24 lead at the break.
•    Navy quickly took a 42-26 lead in the early stages of the second half only to see Bucknell make it a 42-35 lead.  
•    The Mids responded by taking leads of 48-35, 53-37 and 60-41 with just under eight minutes left.
•    Navy shot 53.8 percent from the field after halftime and limited Bucknell to a 36.5 percent shooting effort for the  game.
•    The Mids held advantages of 45-28 on the glass, 17-9 in second-chance points and 17-0 in fast break points.
•    Besides Kehoe's effort, Donovan Draper just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds while Jinwoo Kim scored 18 points.

Navy Earns 4 Major Patriot League Awards
•    Navy was well represented when the Patriot League announced its major awards and all-league teams earlier this week.
•    Austin Benigni was named the Patriot League Player of the Year, becoming the second Mid to earn the honor.
•    Benigni also was named to the league's first team.  He is the fourth Mid to have earned multiple first-team all-league accolades.
•    He also is the third Mid to have received three all-league awards.
•    Aidan Kehoe was selected as not only the league's defensive player of the year, but also received all-league honors (first team) honors for the first time.
•    Head coach Jon Perry and his assistants were named the Patriot League Coaching Staff of the Year.
•    Perry is fourth Navy head coach to have earned the laurel.
•    Donovan Draper was named to the all-defensive team for the second time. He is the third Mid to be on the team for a second time.
•    Benigni also was named this year's Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year.  
•    A computer science major with a 3.47 cumulative grade-point average, he is the first Mid in 25 years to win the award and the fifth in the league to be named the player and scholar-athlete of the year in the same season.

Patriot League Tournament History
•    Navy is competing in its 35th Patriot League Tournament.
•    Navy is the No. 1 seed for the fifth time and playing the No. 8 seed for the second time.
•    Navy is playing Bucknell for the 10th time, the most games the Mids have played against any league foe.

Mids Earn Another First Round Bye
•    Navy earned a first round Patriot League Tournament bye for the ninth time in the last 10 years (2017-26). Colgate ranks first in this span with no first round games, followed by Navy with one.

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 17 wins, Navy set the school record for the most Patriot League regular season victories 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.
•    Navy also recorded the second 17-1 record (Colgate, 2023-23) by a league team.

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 300-190 record in the facility.  This includes a 147-112 record in Patriot League regular season games.
•    Navy has compiled a 15-5 record in league tournament games played in the venue.
•    There have been 61 future NBA players to play in Alumni Hall since it opened.

Mids Well Ahead in Points in the Paint
•    Navy has scored more points in the paint in 15 of its 18 (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 +1,089 in offensive rebounding margin over the last 12 seasons.
•    The Mids are +1,037 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 42 of the 62 (67.7%) possessions in which Kehoe has grabbed at least one offensive board since the start of the Patriot League season.  The Mids have scored 75 points off of his offensive rebounds in league play.

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 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 91 games of scoring in double figures and third place with 41 career games with 20 or more points.  

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 and attempted.
•    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 and Patriot League 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 36 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 again 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 is the first Mid to have three seasons with both 400 points and 100 assists.
•     Benigni is one of seven 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 33rd nationally with an average of 35:51 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. 
•    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. 
•    Kehoe is tied for second place nationally for the most double-doubles this season.
•    Kehoe has posted double-doubles in each of the last eight games. That is one of the longest runs of double-doubles by a Mid.  

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 eighth 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 third 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.