Navy defeats Lafayette 76-50

Navy Dominates Lafayette in Statement Win

In a convincing 26-point victory, the host Navy Midshipmen (17-7, 8-3 Patriot League) cruised past the visiting Lafayette Leopards (10-12, 5-6 Patriot League) at Alumni Hall on Monday night.

The home team's dominance was evident from the opening tip-off, as they quickly built a 20-point lead by halftime. Navy's stifling defense limited Lafayette to just 30 points in the first half, while the Mids' offense fired on all cylinders, converting 39% of their field goal attempts and outscoring Lafayette 39-20.

At the midway point, it was clear that this game would not be a close contest. Navy's Aidan Kehoe (23 points, 11 rebounds) led the way for the Mids, shooting an impressive 100.0% from the field and dominating on both ends of the court. Austin Benigni chipped in with 17 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds, while Christian Humphrey's 9 points and 6 rebounds were the lone bright spots for Lafayette.

The second half saw Navy extend its lead to as many as 33 points, before settling on a final margin of 26. The Mids' balanced attack continued to outscore the Leopards in nearly every category, including field goal percentage (53.0% vs. 30.0%), free throw shooting (48.0% vs. 65.0%), and rebounding (41-35).

Advanced statistics further underscored Navy's dominance, as they shot a stellar 61.8% from the field, including 43.0% from three-point range. The Mids also held Lafayette to just 36.8% shooting from the field, limiting their fast break opportunities and points off turnovers.

The defeat marked another significant win for Navy in conference play, which now sits atop the Patriot League standings. Meanwhile, Lafayette's loss drops them into a tie with American for third place, but still leaves room for improvement.

For the Mids, this victory serves as a statement of intent ahead of the final stretch of the regular season. With their defense and offense firing on all cylinders, Navy looks poised to make a deep run in the tournament.