The Holy Cross men's basketball team continues Patriot League action when they host Navy on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 2 p.m. in the Hart Center Arena. The contest will stream live on ESPN+ with Kevin Gehl (play-by-play) and Jacob VanRyn (analyst) on the call.

Saturday is Youth Day and the Military Appreciation Game. Crusader Kids Club members will be able to be entered to win an exclusive Holy Cross basketball item at the game and there will be a postgame autograph signing with the team following the game.  

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (6-8, 1-0 PL): 

• Holy Cross earned their first Patriot League victory defeating Bucknell 65-58 on Wednesday. Junior forward Declan Ryan matched a career-high with 14 points to go with five rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. Junior guard/forward Gabe Warren established a new career-high with four assists in the win.
• As a team, Holy Cross set a season-high with 20 free throw conversions in the league opener versus Bucknell. Warren and sophomore guard Tyler Boston rank fifth (51.7) and sixth (45.4) respectively in free throw rate in the Patriot league per KenPom.
• Boston ranks eighth in the Patriot League in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4), ninth in assists (43), ninth in assists per game (3.1), 10th in scoring (13.2), and 10th in free throw percentage (81.5).
• The Crusaders ended conference play ranking second in the Patriot League in scoring defense (73.3), fourth in three-point percentage defense (32.6) and fourth in turnover margin (0.00).
• Holy Cross Athletics announced on Monday, Dec. 22nd that the court in the Hart Center Arena will be dedicated and named in honor of Crusader and NBA legend Bob Cousy. A formal dedication of the Bob Cousy '50 Court will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7 prior to the game against Lehigh on Winter Homecoming Weekend.
• Holy Cross improved six slots and is the seventh ranked Patriot League team in the 2026 Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings (322nd). They rank 296th (101.0) in offensive rating and 328th (115.6) in defensive rating.

SCOUTING THE MIDSHIPMEN (9-5, 1-0 PL): 

• Navy has won five straight games including an 82-77 win at home in their Patriot League opener over Boston University on Wednesday. Austin Benigni scored a game-high 27 points with eight assists while Aidan Kehoe dropped a 15 point and 15 rebound double-double. Jordan Pennick scored 18 points in 24 minutes off the bench.
• Benigni (Dec. 8) and Kehoe (Dec. 22) have earned Patriot League Player of the Week honors this season. Benigni the Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year, ranks fifth in the nation in free throws (88) and 20th in free throw attempts (101). Kehoe ranks fourth in the country in free throw percentage (69.0), 12th in rebounds (127) and 17th in double-doubles (6).
• As a team, Navy is 27th in the NCAA and tops in the Patriot League in scoring defense (65.4).
• Navy ranks second out of 10 Patriot League teams in the 2026 Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings (205th). They are 242nd in offensive rating (104.3) and 159th (108.0) in defensive rating.

LAST TIME THEY MET: 

• Holy Cross is 48-31 (.608) in the series history against Navy which began back in 1947. The Crusaders are 26-10 (.722) against the Midshipmen in the Hart Center Arena. Navy has won four of the last five meetings.
• In their last meeting on Feb. 23, 2025, the Midshipmen earned an 83-77 overtime win in Annapolis. Then-sophomore guard DeAndre Williams scored 20 points in the victory with four assists and four rebounds.

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