ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half surge propelled the Navy men’s basketball team to a decisive Patriot League victory Wednesday night, defeating visiting Bucknell 76-55 at Alumni Hall.

The Midshipmen, improving to 11-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play, broke open a tight contest after halftime, outscoring the Bison 43-23 over the final 20 minutes. The game’s pivotal stretch came early in the second half, transforming a narrow 33-32 Navy lead at intermission into a commanding advantage.

The turning point arrived swiftly after the break. Navy opened the second period with an 8-0 run in just over two minutes, fueled by a jump shot from Aidan Kehoe and consecutive three-pointers by Jordan Pennick. The burst forced a full Bucknell timeout with 18:24 remaining and the score 41-32, but the stoppage did little to stem the tide. The Midshipmen’s defensive pressure intensified, leading to Bucknell turnovers and rushed shots, while their offense continued to execute with precision.

Navy’s trio of Kehoe, Pennick and Austin Benigni proved unstoppable, combining for 66 of the team’s 76 points. Kehoe, a 6-foot-10 junior from Montvale, New Jersey, was a force inside, scoring 20 points on efficient 8-of-12 shooting, adding two blocks and controlling the glass with 11 rebounds. Benigni, the 5-10 sophomore guard from The Woodlands, Texas, orchestrated the offense with a game-high 23 points and six assists. Pennick, a 5-11 senior from Reisterstown, Maryland, matched Benigni’s 23 points, sinking five three-pointers.

Bucknell, which fell to 4-12 overall and 1-2 in the Patriot League, was led by Amon Dörries’ 15 points and three blocks. Ruot Bijiek added 16 points. The Bison struggled offensively all night, shooting just 34 percent from the field and 25.8 percent from three-point range. Their 13 turnovers were converted into 18 points by a relentless Navy defense that recorded 10 steals.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring eight lead changes. Bucknell’s largest lead was four points at 11-7 after a Dörries dunk midway through the period. Navy responded with an 11-2 run, capped by a Benigni three-pointer, to take an 18-13 lead. The Bison clawed back, and a Dörries layup in the final seconds sent Navy into the locker room with just a one-point edge.

Any hope for a Bucknell comeback was extinguished by Navy’s explosive start to the second half. Following the initial 8-0 run, the Midshipmen continued to expand their lead, methodically dismantling the Bison defense. A Kehoe hook shot at the 15:22 mark pushed the lead to 49-38, and a Mike Woods dunk off a Cam Cole steal moments later made it 53-40. Cole, despite scoring only four points, was instrumental in the victory with seven assists and a game-high four steals.

Navy’s offensive efficiency was stark, scoring 76 points on 69 possessions for a rating of 110.9. Bucknell managed only 55 points on 68 possessions, an offensive rating of 81.3. The Midshipmen also outshot the Bison significantly, hitting 47.3 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from beyond the arc compared to Bucknell’s 34 percent and 25.8 percent, respectively.

The victory was Navy’s second straight in league play, while Bucknell has now lost two of its last three. The announced attendance was 758.

Navy next hosts Lafayette on Saturday, while Bucknell returns home to face Loyola Maryland, also on Saturday.