The U.S. Naval Academy secured a hard-fought 82-79 victory over Lehigh at Stabler Arena, with Austin Benigni leading the charge for Navy. The junior guard poured in 34 points, outdueling Lehigh's Nasir Whitlock, who finished with 31 points of his own. The win improves Navy's record to 15-6, while Lehigh falls to 9-12.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage until the final minutes. Navy held a slim 27-26 lead at halftime, but Lehigh came out strong in the second half, with Whitlock and Edouard Benoit combining for 23 points in the period. However, Benigni and his Navy teammates refused to back down, with Aidan Kehoe chipping in 21 points and 21 rebounds to help seal the win.
The second half saw both teams trade baskets, with Lehigh's Joshua Ingram and Navy's Cam Cole making key contributions off the bench. As the game wore on, it became clear that the team with the last possession would likely emerge victorious. In the end, it was Navy who made the crucial plays, with Benigni sinking several clutch free throws to ice the game.
Whitlock's 31 points were a reflection of his skill and determination, but ultimately, it was not enough to overcome the balanced attack of Navy. Benigni's performance, meanwhile, was a career-high, and his ability to score from both inside and outside the arc made the difference.
The win is a significant one for Navy, as it adds another victory to their resume. As a Quadrant 4 win, it may not carry significant weight in terms of tournament implications, but it does demonstrate the team's ability to win on the road against a tough opponent. For Lehigh, the loss is a disappointing one, as it drops them to 9-12 and makes their path to a potential tournament bid even more difficult. As a Quadrant 4 loss, it will not significantly harm their resume, but it does highlight the need for the team to perform better against comparable opponents.
In terms of tournament chances, Navy's win keeps them on the periphery of the conversation, but they must continue to rack up wins against stronger opponents to make a serious push for a bid. Lehigh, meanwhile, faces an uphill climb, and must string together several wins in a row to get back into the discussion. As it stands, both teams have work to do to improve their resumes, but Navy's victory on Friday night gives them a slight edge in the pursuit of a postseason berth.