ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and offensive inefficiency, the Navy men’s basketball team leaned on the singular brilliance of guard Austin Benigni to secure a 61-56 victory over service academy rival Air Force on Sunday at Alumni Hall.

The contest, played before a crowd of 1,928, was a stark contrast in styles and execution. While both teams struggled mightily from the field, each finishing 21 of 53, Navy’s precision at the free-throw line and a dominant second-half performance from Benigni proved to be the decisive factors. The Midshipmen converted 14 of 15 free throws, a 93.3% clip, while the Falcons managed only 8 of 14 from the stripe.

The most important part of the game unfolded over the final 13 minutes of the second half, a stretch where Navy transformed a tenuous two-point lead into a commanding advantage. With Air Force clinging to a 34-32 edge after a Lucas Hobin jumper with 13:37 remaining, the Midshipmen unleashed a 15-3 run that seized control. Benigni was the catalyst, scoring 11 points during the surge, including a pair of three-pointers. His second three of the run, assisted by Cam Cole with 7:35 left, pushed Navy’s lead to 47-37 and forced an Air Force timeout.

Benigni, a junior from The Woodlands, Texas, was relentless, playing 40 minutes and scoring a game-high 25 points. He added five assists and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line, including two clutch makes with 11 seconds left to ice the game. His ability to create his own shot in the half-court and attack the rim was the primary antidote to a slogging game where points were at a premium. This performance continued a strong stretch for Benigni, who has now scored 20 or more points in three of Navy’s last five contests.

Air Force, which fell to 3-8, was led by guard Kam Sanders with 15 points and forward Caleb Walker with 12 points off the bench. The Falcons’ offense never found a consistent rhythm, posting an offensive rating of just 85.3 points per 100 possessions. They hit only 6 of 25 attempts from three-point range and committed 11 turnovers, which Navy converted into nine points. A critical disparity came in transition, where the Midshipmen held an 8-0 edge in fastbreak points.

The first half was a defensive struggle, with Air Force taking a 25-24 lead into the break. Navy’s early offense came from guard Jinwoo Kim, who hit two first-half threes on his way to 10 points and five assists. The Falcons relied on interior play, scoring 26 of their 56 points in the paint, with Walker providing a key spark. The game featured 14 blocked shots combined, with Navy’s Aidan Kehoe and Air Force’s Wesley Celichowski each recording three.

Navy improved to 6-5 with the win, overcoming a pregame projection that favored them heavily. The combined score of 117 points fell well under the over/under line of 136.5, underscoring the defensive nature of the contest. The Midshipmen also failed to cover the 9.5-point spread in the tight finish.

For Air Force, the loss extends a difficult start to the season. The Falcons will look to regroup before opening Mountain West Conference play on Dec. 17 at San Diego State. Navy, meanwhile, will host Coppin State on Dec. 19 before embarking on its Patriot League schedule, which begins on New Year’s Eve against Boston University. The victory provides momentum for the Midshipmen as they prepare for the conference grind and the annual rivalry showdown with Army set for Jan. 24.