Army Men’s Basketball Falls Short in Hard-Fought Battle at St. Thomas, 76-83

Five Black Knights Score in Double Figures, But Tommies’ Paint Dominance Proves Decisive in Season Opener at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena

ST. PAUL, MN — Army West Point men’s basketball (1-1) suffered its first loss of the 2025-26 season on Saturday night, falling 76-83 to the University of St. Thomas Tommies (1-1) at the grand opening of the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in front of 5,325 fans.

Despite a furious late-game rally that saw the Black Knights outscore St. Thomas 17-8 in the final two minutes, Army could not overcome a 15-point halftime deficit and the Tommies’ overwhelming 50-28 advantage in the paint. The loss marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs, with St. Thomas now holding a 1-0 series lead.

Five Black Knights finished in double figures, led by Jorn Everson and Jacen Holloway with 16 points each. Freshman Jackson Furman continued his impressive start to the season with 15 points off the bench, while Kevin McCarthy added 14 and Ryan Curry contributed 10 points and a team-high seven assists in his season debut.

First Half: Tommies Build 15-Point Cushion Behind Dominant Paint Attack

Army opened the game with early baskets from Everson and McCarthy, with Holloway facilitating and attacking the rim to set an aggressive offensive tone. However, St. Thomas quickly established control with sharp execution on both ends of the floor, building a 10-point cushion midway through the first half.

The Black Knights responded with patience and poise. Curry, making his season debut after missing the opener against SUNY Maritime, orchestrated the half-court sets effectively, setting up McCarthy and Furman for open looks from beyond the arc. Around the eight-minute mark, McCarthy’s pull-up three-pointer and Holloway’s made free throws sparked a run that cut the deficit to single digits.

Despite Army’s improved offensive rhythm, St. Thomas’ inside attack proved difficult to contain. Everson battled in the paint, scoring on a hook shot and finding Tate Laczkowski on an alley-oop to keep Army within range. In the closing minutes of the half, Furman and McCarthy buried back-to-back three-pointers to momentarily shift momentum.

But St. Thomas closed the half strong with a quick 6-0 run, taking a commanding 44-29 lead into the locker room. The Tommies dominated the paint with 26 first-half points in the lane and shot 51.6 percent from the floor, while Army managed just 39.3 percent shooting and trailed in nearly every statistical category.

Second Half: Black Knights Battle Back, But Paint Dominance Proves Decisive

Army came out of the locker room with renewed determination, and the intensity was immediately evident. Holloway sparked the offense with back-to-back drives to the basket, while Everson scored on a pair of hook shots inside to ignite a 10-4 run early in the half.

Curry’s steady ball movement created open looks for teammates, and his assist to McCarthy for a corner three-pointer trimmed the deficit to 64-55 at the midpoint of the second half. The Black Knights found offensive balance during this stretch—Everson was effective in the post, Holloway attacked the lane with confidence, and Furman added scoring from midrange and beyond the arc. McCarthy drilled another three from the wing to keep the Tommies’ defense honest, and Army’s defensive pressure began forcing St. Thomas into late-clock possessions.

However, each Army run was met with an answer from St. Thomas. The Tommies’ ability to score in the paint—particularly through Nolan Minessale(20 points) and Isaiah Johnson-Arigu (11 points)—kept the Black Knights at arm’s length each time the deficit narrowed to single digits.

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Final Four Minutes: Army Refuses to Quit, Nearly Completes Comeback

In the final four minutes, Army refused to go quietly. Everson connected on a deep three-pointer, followed by Curry’s pull-up triple to make it 77-70. Moments later, McCarthy hit another clutch three off a Curry assist, bringing the Black Knights within six points at 79-73 with under a minute remaining.

Furman, who went a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line in the final minute, kept Army alive with his poise and efficiency. The Black Knights closed the game on a 17-8 run, but St. Thomas executed at the stripe in the final seconds to seal the 83-76 victory.

Despite the loss, Army’s resilience and offensive firepower in the second half—shooting 47.1 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from three-point range—demonstrated the team’s ability to compete and fight until the final buzzer.

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Black Knight Standouts

Jorn Everson played a pivotal role in Army’s offense, finishing with 16 points on 7-14 shooting (50 percent) and a career-high seven rebounds. The sophomore also added three assists and two three-pointers, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the floor.

Jacen Holloway topped his career high with 16 points, shooting an efficient 5-7 from the floor and adding five made free throws. The sophomore also contributed four rebounds and two assists, attacking the basket with confidence throughout the game.

Jackson Furman continued his strong start to the season with another impressive performance off the bench. The freshman finished with 15 points on 4-6 shooting (66.7 percent), including 2-3 from three-point range and a perfect 5-5 from the free-throw line. Furman’s poise in high-pressure moments—particularly his clutch free throws in the final minute—highlighted his maturity beyond his years.

Kevin McCarthy recorded his second consecutive double-digit performance, finishing with 14 points and four made three-pointers. McCarthy’s ability to knock down open shots from beyond the arc kept Army within striking distance throughout the second half.

Ryan Curry made his season debut after missing the opener, adding 10 points and a team-high seven assists. Curry’s steady ball movement and court vision were instrumental in Army’s second-half offensive rhythm, and his leadership on the floor was evident in the Black Knights’ late-game surge.

Tate Laczkowski rounded out the Black Knight scorers with five points, but his impact was felt elsewhere—he led the team with eight rebounds and added two assists, providing a physical presence on the glass and in the paint.

Statistical Breakdown: Paint Dominance and Turnovers Tell the Story

Army shot 43.5 percent from the floor and 32.4 percent from three-point range, while St. Thomas shot 50.0 percent from the floor but just 20.0 percent from beyond the arc. The Black Knights were more efficient at the free-throw line (78.6 percent to 72.0 percent), but the Tommies’ dominance in the paint proved decisive.

St. Thomas outscored Army 50-28 in the paint, capitalizing on size and interior scoring throughout the game. The Tommies also converted 10 points off turnovers, while Army managed just four. Army’s 11 turnovers were well-managed, but the Black Knights’ inability to contain St. Thomas’ inside attack ultimately sealed their fate.

Four Black Knights recorded steals—McCarthy, Laczkowski, Dillon Watt, and Dayon Polk—but Army’s defensive effort in the paint was not enough to slow the Tommies’ relentless interior attack.

Up Next: Historic Veterans Day Showdown with No. 6 Duke at West Point

The Black Knights return to Christl Arena on Veterans Day, November 11, to host the preseason No. 6 team in the nation, the Duke Blue Devils. The game marks just the third time in program history—and the first time in 28 years—that Army has hosted a Power Five opponent at West Point.

The first came against LSU on December 21, 1978. The second was against Duke on November 16, 1997. Now, 28 years later, the Blue Devils return to Christl Arena for a historic matchup on one of the most meaningful days of the year for the United States Military Academy.

Alongside the game, Mike Krzyzewski (’69)—Army’s legendary former player and head coach—will make his return to West Point and Christl Arena, where he will be honored as the winningest head coach in NCAA Division I history. The ceremony will take place before the Army’s Veterans Day matchup against Duke.

The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off, with live coverage on the CBS Sports Network and the Army Sports Network.

For the Black Knights, the opportunity to compete against one of college basketball’s blue-blood programs on Veterans Day—in front of the Corps of Cadets and the West Point community—is a chance to showcase the resilience, discipline, and fight that define Army basketball.

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