LEWISBURG, Pa. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant opening act, the Navy men’s basketball team seized control early and never looked back, cruising to a 76-60 victory over Bucknell in a Patriot League contest Monday night at Sojka Pavilion.

The Midshipmen, now 20-6 overall and winners of five straight, delivered a first-half defensive clinic, holding the Bison to just 24 points on the way to a commanding 35-24 halftime lead. That initial 20-minute stretch proved to be the most important part of the game, as Navy’s suffocating pressure and efficient offense built a cushion that Bucknell could never seriously threaten.

Navy’s star forward Aidan Kehoe was the engine behind the victory. The 6-foot-10 junior from Montvale, New Jersey, scored a game-high 26 points, dished out five assists, and blocked two shots in 34 minutes of work. His interior presence was overwhelming, particularly in the first half as he helped establish Navy’s decisive advantage.

Bucknell, which fell to 8-18, showed brief flashes of resistance but was ultimately undone by its slow start and an inability to string together consistent stops. The Bison were led by Achile Spadone of Geneva, Switzerland, who scored 14 points, and Amon Dörries of Potsdam, Germany, who added 13 points. Jayden Williams from the Bronx, New York, contributed 12 points and four assists for the home side.

The game’s opening minutes set the tone. After Bucknell’s Amon Dörries won the opening tip, the Bison scored the first four points. Navy responded with a 10-0 run, a stretch that showcased their defensive intensity. It included a block by Kehoe on a Dörries drive and a steal by Kehoe that led to a Donovan Draper layup. Navy’s defense forced several early shot-clock violations and turnovers, disrupting Bucknell’s offensive flow entirely.

Kehoe was instrumental in building the lead, scoring 10 of Navy’s first 22 points. His hook shot at the 8:44 mark of the first half gave Navy a 22-11 advantage, and the lead ballooned to as many as 16 points before the break. The Midshipmen’s backcourt provided ample support, with guard Jinwoo Kim of Overland Park, Kansas, scoring 18 points and Draper of West Palm Beach, Florida, adding 14 points off the bench.

Bucknell attempted to mount a comeback after halftime, cutting the deficit to nine points on multiple occasions. A Patrick O’Brien three-pointer made it 33-24 early in the second half, and a Pat Curtin layup later brought the Bison within 48-39. Each time, Navy had an answer, usually from Kehoe or Kim. A Kehoe-assisted three-pointer by Kim with 11:02 to play pushed the lead back to 54-39, effectively extinguishing Bucknell’s last hope.

The Midshipmen’s ball movement was sharp, resulting in 18 assists on 29 made field goals. Point guard Austin Benigni of The Woodlands, Texas, managed the game with seven points and three assists, while Cam Cole of Bristow, Virginia, chipped in five assists. Navy’s defense held Bucknell to just 36.2% shooting from the field and forced 15 turnovers.

For Bucknell, Curtin of Ellicott City, Maryland, finished with 14 points. The Bison won the rebounding battle 38-34 but were hampered by 6-of-24 shooting from three-point range and could not overcome their initial offensive woes.

The victory continues a strong stretch for Navy, which has now won 12 of its last 13 games. Kehoe’s performance follows a series of strong outings, including a 22-point, 10-rebound effort in a win over American last Saturday. The Midshipmen completed a regular-season sweep of Bucknell, having also won 76-55 in Annapolis on Jan. 7.

Navy will look to extend its winning streak when it travels to face first-place Colgate on Saturday. Bucknell aims to regroup on the road at Boston University, also on Saturday.

An announced crowd of 1,417 watched the game at Sojka Pavilion. Navy entered as a 6.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, and the combined score of 136 points fell under the pregame over/under line of 134.