The U.S. Naval Academy established control early, taking a 43-25 lead into halftime against Loyola University Maryland at Reitz Arena. This 18-point gap at the break set the tone for the remainder of the game, as Navy maintained a significant advantage throughout. The final score of 78-51 in favor of Navy reflected the sizable margin that was present from the outset.
The second half saw Navy continue to outpace Loyola Maryland, outscoring them 35-26 to seal the 27-point victory. The disparity in the final score underscores the significant gap between these two teams, with Navy, ranked 140th in the NET rankings, proving to be far superior to the 327th-ranked Loyola Maryland. The result was never truly in doubt after the first half, as Navy's lead was consistently large enough to prevent a potential comeback.
A 25-point, 4-rebound performance from Jinwoo Kim set the tone for Navy, as his efficient shooting helped the team build an early lead. His 8-12 field goal shooting, including 5-8 from three-point range, was a key factor in Navy's strong offensive output. With the game well in hand, Austin Benigni's 22 points, which included 4-10 shooting from beyond the arc, allowed Navy to maintain a comfortable margin over Loyola Maryland.
The freshman standout, Aidan Kehoe, contributed a well-rounded effort, with 10 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists, providing a strong foundation for Navy's interior play. Erupting for 16 rebounds, Kehoe's presence on the glass was a significant factor in Navy's dominance on the boards. As the game unfolded, Jinwoo Kim's shooting and Austin Benigni's scoring ability, combined with Kehoe's all-around play, proved too much for Loyola Maryland to overcome, ultimately leading to Navy's 78-51 victory.
Despite the loss, his 13 points on 6-15 shooting from Emmett Adair were a highlight for Loyola Maryland, though the team's overall performance was not enough to keep pace. The team's leading scorer, Adair, also added 7 rebounds and a block to his stat line, but it was not sufficient to overcome the deficit. Finishing with 7 points, Braeden Speed's contribution was limited, with his 5 assists being a notable aspect of his game, as he shot 2-7 from the field and 2-3 from three-point range.
The supporting cast for Loyola Maryland struggled to find their footing, with Jordan Stiemke's 6 points on 2-9 shooting being a testament to the team's difficulties. His 3 assists were a positive note, but the 0-4 mark from three-point range was a reflection of the team's shooting woes. With Adair, Speed, and Stiemke being the top performers, their combined efforts were not enough to propel Loyola Maryland to a win, as they were ultimately outmatched by Navy's strong performance.
A notable decline in production from Jacob Theodosiou, who scored 6 points, marked a significant deviation from his season average of 13.6 points per game, with Theodosiou also failing to grab a rebound. In contrast, the rebounding effort of Tyson Commander, with 7 rebounds, exceeded his season average of 2.5 rebounds per game by a substantial margin, although Commander's overall scoring output was only slightly above his typical average, with Commander scoring 5 points.
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Final
The pre-game prediction of a Navy victory by 9.2 points proved to be correct, albeit the actual margin of 27 points far exceeded expectations. This disparity suggests that Loyola Maryland underperformed significantly, while Navy capitalized on its opponent's struggles to secure a more decisive win than anticipated. The significant difference between the predicted and actual margins underscores the unpredictability of college basketball, where teams' performances can vary greatly from one game to another.
A closer examination of the team statistics reveals that the game was largely decided by the stark contrast in shooting efficiency between the two teams. Navy's impressive effective field goal percentage of 64.2% and 3-point percentage of 45.5% indicate a high level of accuracy and potency in its offense, which Loyola Maryland struggled to contain. In contrast, Loyola Maryland's poor shooting, with an effective field goal percentage of 37.7% and 3-point percentage of 21.9%, hindered its ability to keep pace with Navy's scoring. The disparity in shooting efficiency ultimately proved too great for Loyola Maryland to overcome, leading to the significant margin of victory for Navy.
The outcome of this game has significant implications for both teams' postseason positioning, particularly in the context of the Patriot League conference tournament. Navy's victory strengthens their standing in the conference, bolstering their chances of securing a favorable seed and schedule in the tournament. Conversely, Loyola Maryland's loss further complicates their path to the conference championship, as they will likely need to navigate a more treacherous bracket to reach the title game. With neither team in contention for an at-large bid, the conference tournament auto-bid remains their sole avenue to the NCAA Tournament. Given their respective NET rankings and Quad performance records, it is clear that Navy has established itself as a more formidable program this season, and this win only reinforces that notion - ultimately, Loyola Maryland's disappointing season is a stark reminder that rebuilding a program takes time, and sometimes, it takes a loss to a rival to drive that point home.