Black Knights force 21 turnovers in win over rival Midshipmen

Army Athletic Communications

WEST POINT, N.Y. — The Army men’s basketball team limited one of the Patriot League’s highest-scoring teams to 22 points below its season average in a 69-50 victory over Navy in front of a Christl Arena-record crowd of 5,163 on Saturday afternoon. The Black Knights claimed the Alumni Trophy for the first time since 2002.

The Black Knights (14-12. 4-8 Patriot League) forced 21 turnovers and held the Mids (13-14, 7-5 Patriot League) to just 39.6 percent shooting for the game, including a 1-for-19 mark from three-point range. Navy missed its first eight three-point shots, made its first attempt of the second half and then was zero for its last 10 from deep.

It was Navy’s lowest scoring output of the season and just the third time this year it didn’t score at least 60 points. Army, the league’s top scoring defense, improved to 13-2 this season when keeping opponents to less than 60 points.

The win snapped the Black Knights’ three-game losing streak.

Seniors Cleveland Richard and Chris Walker led the Army offense with 15 and 14 points, respectively. It was Richard’s career-best seventh straight game in double figures. Walker matched his season high in points and also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Junior Mitch McDonald had eight points, three rebounds and three assists while committing only one turnover in 20 minutes.

Senior guard Marcus Nelson recorded one blocked shot to tie the Academy record of 74 held by Jimmy Sewell (2003-07). Walker blocked three shots and stands fifth all-time with 52.

O.J. Avworo and Jordan Sugars both scored 13 points for the Mids. Romeo Garcia grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Army put the clamps on Navy’s Chris Harris, allowing him only four points on 2-of-17 shooting overall and 0-for-7 from three-point range. Harris entered the game as the Patriot League’s leading scorer at 21.5 points per game.

Army shot 51 percent for the game, its best shooting effort since 54 percent in a 20-point win over American on Jan. 20. The Black Knights are 18-7 in their last 25 games when shooting at least 50 percent from the field.

Army and Navy have split the season series in each of the past seven seasons. It was Army’s largest margin of victory over the Mids since a 63-43 win in 2005.

The win also improved the Black Knights’ record to 10-2 at home.