Preview: Army at Holy Cross in Patriot League Men’s Basketball

WORCESTER, Mass. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to break free from identical midseason slumps will meet Wednesday when Army visits Holy Cross in a Patriot League men’s basketball matchup.

The Black Knights (7-10, 0-4 Patriot League) and Crusaders (7-10, 2-3) both sit at 7-10 overall, but their recent conference fortunes have diverged. Army arrives at the Hart Recreation Center on a four-game losing streak, all in league play. Holy Cross snapped a three-game skid with an 84-73 road win at American on Saturday.

The game features a compelling backcourt matchup between two of the league’s top performers. Army’s hopes will rest heavily on junior guard Ryan Curry, who is averaging 21.8 points and 7.0 assists over his last five games. Curry is coming off a 24-point, 8-assist effort in a 100-91 loss at Boston University last Saturday and has recorded two near-triple-doubles in recent weeks.

Holy Cross will counter with sophomore guard Gabe Warren, who led the Crusaders in their win over American with 17 points and eight rebounds. Warren has been a consistent scorer, reaching double figures in four of his last five contests.

Army’s struggles have been pronounced in close games, with three of their four consecutive losses coming by single digits, including an overtime defeat to Loyola Maryland. The Black Knights have shown offensive firepower, scoring 91 and 95 points in recent losses, but defense has been an issue.

Holy Cross has found a more balanced attack alongside Warren. Guard Tyler Boston added 19 points against American, and forward DeAndre Williams provided 12 points and six rebounds.

Both teams will look to this game as a chance to build momentum before the heart of the league schedule. For Army, it represents a critical opportunity to secure its first Patriot League victory. For Holy Cross, protecting home court is essential to climbing the conference standings.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Wednesday. The teams will meet again in West Point, New York, on Jan. 31.