Navy Looks to Rebound Against Surging Lehigh in Patriot League Showdown

FOUNTAIN HILL, Pa. (Interstat) — A surging Lehigh team will host a Navy squad looking to regain its footing in a Patriot League men’s basketball clash Saturday at Stabler Arena.

The Midshipmen (12-6, 3-1 Patriot) enter off a rare stumble, a 65-51 loss at American on Monday that snapped a five-game winning streak. Prior to that, Navy had been dominant in conference play, winning those five games by an average of 21.2 points.

Navy’s success has been fueled by forward Aidan Kehoe. Over his last seven games, the standout is averaging 16.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. He posted a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double in a win over Lafayette on Jan. 10 and a 15-point, 15-rebound effort against Boston University on Dec. 31.

The Mountain Hawks (7-11, 3-1), however, arrive with momentum from a thrilling 93-91 overtime road victory at Boston University on Wednesday. Guard Nasir Whitlock poured in a season-high 30 points in that win, capping a strong three-game stretch where Lehigh has won twice.

Whitlock is averaging 16.3 points over his last six contests. His backcourt mate, Edouard Benoit, added 23 points in the win over BU.

While Navy holds the superior overall record, Lehigh has shown a knack for close games, with four of its last six contests decided by six points or fewer or in overtime. The Midshipmen will aim to control the tempo and re-establish their defensive presence after allowing American to shoot 48.9% from the field.

This marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs. They will meet again in Annapolis, Maryland, on Feb. 18.

Saturday’s winner will keep pace near the top of the early Patriot League standings.