LEWISBURG, Pa. (Interstat) — In a Patriot League men’s basketball contest defined more by grit than grace, the Bucknell Bison used a decisive second-half surge to pull away from the Army Black Knights, 65-55, on Tuesday night at Sojka Pavilion.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 606, was a stark contrast in offensive efficiency. While neither team shot well from distance, Bucknell’s superior execution inside the arc and a standout performance from guard Pat Curtin proved to be the difference.

The first half was a defensive struggle, with both teams combining for 51 points. Army, the visiting team, took a brief early lead, but Bucknell settled in behind Curtin and forward Achile Spadone. The Bison held a narrow 26-25 advantage at the break, a margin that belied Army’s profound shooting woes. The Black Knights connected on just 5 of 42 attempts from three-point range in the game, a debilitating 11.9 percent that strangled their offensive flow throughout the night.

The most important part of the game unfolded early in the second half. After Army’s Ryan Curry opened the period with a three-pointer and a driving layup to briefly put the Black Knights ahead 30-26, Bucknell responded with authority. The Bison embarked on a 15-2 run over a five-minute span, turning the four-point deficit into a 41-32 lead they would never relinquish. The run was fueled by Bucknell’s interior presence and Army’s continued cold shooting. Amon Dörries, the Bison’s 6-foot-11 center from Germany, scored inside, Curtin hit a tough turnaround jumper, and Spadone attacked the rim, all while Army missed seven consecutive field goal attempts during the critical stretch.

Bucknell’s offensive rating of 97.7 on 67 possessions, while not explosive, was markedly more effective than Army’s 80.6. The Bison shot 47.2 percent from the floor (25 of 53) compared to Army’s 31.3 percent (21 of 67). The Black Knights compensated somewhat with hustle, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds to Bucknell’s seven, but could not convert those second chances efficiently enough.

Curtin, a junior from Ellicott City, Maryland, led all scorers with 24 points, adding two assists and two steals in 38 minutes. His backcourt mate, Spadone of Geneva, Switzerland, provided crucial support with 19 points. Dörries anchored the paint with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, controlling the defensive glass and altering numerous shots.

Army was led by Jaxson Bell’s 14 points, though he needed 17 shots to get there. Ryan Curry added nine points and three assists, while Jacen Holloway and Jorn Everson each contributed nine and eight points, respectively. The Black Knights’ defense forced 12 Bucknell turnovers and recorded seven steals and four blocks, but their own offensive struggles were insurmountable.

With the victory, Bucknell improved its season record to 10-22 overall and split the regular-season series with Army, avenging a 87-84 overtime loss at home on Jan. 21. The Bison had entered the game as a 2.5-point favorite according to pregame odds, and the final score of 120 combined points fell well under the over/under line of 146.

Army, which has now lost three straight games, falls to 11-21. The Black Knights’ shooting performance marked a season low in three-point percentage, encapsulating a night where defensive effort was consistently undone by offensive futility.

The game, organized by the Patriot League, saw both teams finish with identical totals in assists (7) and steals (7), underscoring the defensive focus. In the end, Bucknell’s ability to generate higher-quality shots in the paint during the game’s pivotal second-half run provided the necessary cushion to secure the win.