WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant first-half performance, the Boston University Terriers cruised to an 85-68 victory over the Army Black Knights in a Patriot League men’s basketball contest Wednesday night at Christl Arena.

The Terriers seized control from the opening tip and never looked back, building a double-digit lead in the first half that the Black Knights could never seriously threaten. Boston University improved to 11-15 overall, while Army fell to 10-16.

The most critical stretch of the game occurred in the opening 20 minutes, where Boston University’s offensive efficiency and defensive pressure created an insurmountable gap. The Terriers shot a blistering 65.9% from the field for the game, but it was their 40-point first half, fueled by that precision, that set the tone. Army, by contrast, struggled to find any offensive rhythm early, connecting on just 22 of 58 shots overall and 12 of 37 from three-point range for the game.

Boston University center Ben Defty was the game’s most impactful player. The 7-foot sophomore from Berlin, Germany, scored 24 points on efficient 10-of-12 shooting from the field, anchoring the Terriers’ interior attack. His presence helped Boston University outscore Army 36-18 in the paint. Defty’s performance continued a strong stretch for the big man, who is averaging over 15 points in his last four contests.

Guard Chance Gladden provided the perfect backcourt complement, orchestrating the offense with 11 assists while adding 14 points. Michael McNair contributed 17 points for the Terriers, and Donte Tisinger added 13.

Army, which entered the game with a slight edge in pregame statistical projections, was led by Jacen Holloway’s 19 points. Jaxson Bell scored 13 and Ryan Curry dished out six assists, but the Black Knights were plagued by cold shooting and an inability to contain Boston University’s high-percentage offense. The Terriers finished with an offensive rating of 132.1 points per 100 possessions, a mark of exceptional efficiency.

The Black Knights showed brief signs of life in the second half, cutting into the deficit at times, but each mini-run was answered promptly by the Terriers. A key sequence midway through the second half typified the evening. After Army’s Jackson Furman hit a three-pointer to pull within 43-37 with 14 minutes remaining, Boston University responded with a 7-0 spurt over the next 90 seconds, capped by a Ben Defty layup off a feed from Azmar Abdullah, to push the lead back to 13 and effectively end any doubt.

Boston University also dominated in transition, outscoring Army 15-5 on fastbreak points, and capitalized on Army’s mistakes, turning nine Black Knight turnovers into 15 points.

The game was a reversal of the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 10, a 100-91 Boston University victory that was significantly more competitive. This time, the Terriers left little to chance, using their size and shooting accuracy to secure a wire-to-wire conference road win.

Attendance at Christl Arena was 580.

Boston University looks to build momentum when it hosts Bucknell on Saturday. Army travels to face American on Saturday.