WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a gritty Patriot League contest defined by defense and a dramatic final sequence, Christian Humphrey-Rembert delivered a dominant double-double to lift Lafayette to a narrow 63-60 victory over Army on Saturday at Christl Arena.

The Leopards, who entered the game as a slight pregame favorite, snapped a two-game skid and improved to 8-16 overall. Army fell to 10-15, seeing its two-game win streak end in a game where the total points fell well under the projected over/under.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the frantic final 20 seconds. Holding a precarious 58-55 lead after Army’s Jorn Everson sank a 3-pointer, Lafayette’s Andrew Phillips was fouled with 9 seconds remaining. He made the second of two free throws to push the lead to four.

Army, without a timeout, raced upcourt and found Everson again for another clutch 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to 59-58 with just 2 seconds on the clock. Lafayette immediately inbounded to Humphrey-Rembert, who was fouled. The 6-foot-9 junior from Grand Rapids, Michigan, missed his first free throw but calmly sank the second for a 60-58 edge.

On the ensuing possession, Army’s desperation attempt for a tie or lead was a missed 3-pointer by Jackson Furman. Lafayette’s Christian Humphrey-Rembert secured the defensive rebound and was fouled with a fraction of a second left. He made both free throws to seal the three-point margin, capping a tense finish that saw multiple lead changes in the closing minutes.

Humphrey-Rembert was the cornerstone of the Lafayette effort, playing 32 minutes and finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. His performance marked a significant offensive resurgence after scoring a combined 17 points in his previous three games. He also added a block and a steal, anchoring the Leopards’ interior defense.

He was complemented by backcourt mates Andrew Phillips and Caleb Williams. Phillips, a guard from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, scored a team-high 15 points and added five rebounds and three assists. Williams, from Jacksonville, Florida, orchestrated the offense with 14 points and five assists. Forward Shareef Jackson provided valuable interior scoring with 10 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Army was led by a balanced attack. Jorn Everson of Williston, North Dakota, came off the bench to score a game-high 14 points, including the two critical late 3-pointers. Jacen Holloway added 12 points, while Jackson Furman just missed a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Point guard Ryan Curry filled the stat sheet with five points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks for the Black Knights.

The game was a defensive struggle from the outset, with both teams shooting under 40% from the floor. Lafayette held a slim 26-28 deficit at halftime but outscored Army 37-32 in the second half. The Leopards managed to create just enough separation with a 9-2 run midway through the final period, fueled by Humphrey-Rembert’s inside presence and Williams’ playmaking, to take a lead they would not fully relinquish.

Army had opportunities down the stretch, but key turnovers and missed shots in the final three minutes, coupled with Lafayette’s ability to convert at the free-throw line in the clutch, proved decisive. The Black Knights won the rebounding battle but were hampered by 14 turnovers.

The announced attendance was 758 at Christl Arena. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Army had been projected with a 61.3% probability to win, making Lafayette’s road victory a slight upset against the predictive metrics.

Lafayette looks to build momentum when it hosts Loyola Maryland on Wednesday. Army aims to rebound at home against Boston University, also on Wednesday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in the regular-season finale on Feb. 28 in Easton, Pennsylvania.