EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and resilience, the Lafayette Leopards held off a furious second-half rally from the Army Black Knights to secure an 83-77 victory in a Patriot League men’s basketball contest Saturday at Kirby Sports Center.

A crowd of 1,764 saw the Leopards improve to 11-19 overall, while Army dropped to 11-20. The result completed a regular-season sweep for Lafayette, which had edged Army 63-60 just three weeks prior.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded late in the second half, as Lafayette weathered a relentless Army comeback attempt that erased a once-comfortable lead. The Black Knights, who trailed by 11 points at halftime, 37-26, exploded for 51 points in the second period. A driving layup by Jaxson Bell with 4 minutes, 28 seconds remaining cut the Lafayette lead to a precarious 67-66, capping a sustained offensive surge that brought the visitors back from a deficit that had been as large as 15 points earlier in the half.

The Leopards, however, responded with the poise of a veteran team in the final minutes. Guard Mark Butler of Philadelphia, who finished with 21 points and six assists, became the primary catalyst. After Bell’s basket made it a one-point game, Butler answered with a layup on the ensuing possession to push the lead back to three. Following an Army turnover, Butler was fouled and sank two free throws with 2 minutes, 35 seconds left, extending the margin to 73-69.

Army’s Jacen Holloway, a forward from Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, kept the pressure on with a layup to again pull within two, but Butler countered with a difficult turnaround jumper in the lane to make it 75-71 with 1 minute, 27 seconds on the clock. The Black Knights would not get closer than three points the rest of the way as Lafayette sealed the game at the free-throw line, making 23 of 29 attempts overall. Butler was central to that effort, hitting 8 of his 10 free throws, including four in the final 29 seconds.

The game’s outcome hinged on Lafayette’s ability to maintain efficiency under pressure and capitalize on Army’s mistakes. The Leopards scored 83 points on just 74 possessions, an offensive rating of 112.5, and committed only nine turnovers. Army, by contrast, turned the ball over 14 times, leading to a 15-9 disparity in points off turnovers that proved decisive in a tight contest. The Leopards also dominated inside, outscoring Army 38-26 in the paint.

The first half set the stage for the drama, as Lafayette used a 15-2 run to build its substantial halftime advantage. The Leopards shot 48% from the field before intermission while holding Army to 32% shooting. Andrew Phillips of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, was instrumental in the early going, scoring 10 of his 15 points in the first half, including a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to send Lafayette into the locker room with momentum.

Army’s second-half charge was led by Bell and Holloway. Bell, a guard from Indianapolis, scored 16 of his game-high 22 points after halftime, while Holloway contributed 13 of his 21 points in the second period. The Black Knights shot a blistering 58% from the field in the half and connected on 7 of 13 from beyond the arc. Kevin McCarthy added 13 points for Army, and Ryan Curry had 12 points and five assists.

For Lafayette, a balanced attack supported Butler’s efforts. Phillips finished with 15 points, Shareef Jackson of Philadelphia added 13 points and Ryan Pettit of Westfield, New Jersey, chipped in 12. The Leopards’ defense, which recorded eight steals, managed to generate just enough stops in the closing moments to prevent Army from completing the comeback.

The game was a microcosm of both teams’ seasons, featuring stretches of impressive play undermined by inconsistencies. Lafayette’s ability to execute in the half-court and protect the ball ultimately provided the narrow margin needed for victory, while Army’s valiant effort fell short due to the early hole and key late-game possessions that ended without points.

With the win, Lafayette gained a measure of momentum heading into the final stretch of the conference schedule, while Army was left to ponder another close loss in a season filled with them.