Army West Point Men’s Basketball Falls to East Texas A&M 67-84 in FDU Thanksgiving Classic Opener

McCarthy Leads with 12 Points, Eli Scores Career-High Nine Off Bench; Black Knights Face Second-Half Shooting Struggles in Tournament Debut

HACKENSACK, N.J. – Army West Point men’s basketball (1-6) opened its appearance at the FDU Thanksgiving Classic on Monday with a 67-84 loss to the East Texas A&M Lions (4-3) at the Bogota Savings Bank Center in front of 350 fans.

The game marked the first meeting between the two programs in history. With the loss, the Black Knights now hold a 0-1 all-time record against the Lions.

Kevin McCarthy led Army in scoring with a team-high 12 points, all of which came in the first half. Ryan Curry added a double-digit performance with 10 points, while Joshua Eli provided an efficient spark off the bench with a career-high nine points on perfect 3-for-3 shooting.

Despite a competitive first half that saw Army trail by just 10 points at the break, the Black Knights struggled offensively in the second half, shooting just 25.8% from the field and 23.5% from three-point range as East Texas A&M pulled away.

First Half: Black Knights Trade Blows, Trail 46-36 at Break

Army opened the game trading baskets with the Lions, as Jackson Furman scored at the rim and McCarthy knocked down his first of several threes to keep the Black Knights within a single possession.

After East Texas A&M surged ahead briefly, Jacen Holloway responded with back-to-back driving layups, and Eli added a finish inside to pull Army back to 28-27.

Curry followed with a free throw and a transition layup, and McCarthy’s second and third threes of the half continued to steady Army’s offense as the teams traded blows.

However, the first half turned midway through the period when the Lions used a sequence of perimeter makes to swing momentum. Damian Garcia led the charge for East Texas A&M, scoring 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including 4-for-6 from three-point range.

Army continued to answer with buckets from Holloway, Jaxson Bell, and Furman, but East Texas A&M’s outside shooting and paint scoring kept the pressure on.

The Black Knights briefly cut the deficit again when McCarthy buried his third triple and Eli converted another strong take inside, but East Texas A&M responded with a pair of drives from Ronnie Harrison and Josh Taylor, and another Garcia three that pushed the margin to double digits.

Tate Laczkowski closed the half with a layup, but Army went into halftime trailing 46-36.

First-Half Statistical Breakdown

Army shot an impressive 56% (14-for-25) from the field in the first half, including 38.5% (5-for-13) from three-point range and 60% (3-for-5) from the free-throw line.

However, East Texas A&M shot even better, connecting on 58.1% (18-for-31) from the field, 43.8% (7-for-16) from three, and 60% (3-for-5) from the line.

The Lions outrebounded Army 16-13 in the first half and held a 23-18 advantage in points in the paint.

Black Knights News:

• Army Volleyball Falls to American 3-0 in Patriot League Championship
• Army Hockey Falls to Air Force 3-2 in Overtime, Extends Winless Streak
• Army West Point Women’s Basketball Dominates Saint Francis 82-50 in Road Blowout
• Army Crumble Late Against Tulsa on Senior Day
• Prediction: Army Takes On Tulsa For Home Finale

Second Half: Lions Pull Away as Army’s Shooting Goes Cold

Army made an early push in the second half as Jackson Mayo drilled a three, Dylan Murans scored on a hard finish, and Dillon Watt supplied a lift with a layup and four straight free throws.

Bell and Curry each knocked down threes to keep Army within range, cutting the deficit to 18 points at 63-42 with 14:28 remaining.

But every time the Black Knights cut into the deficit, East Texas A&M countered with efficient scoring, including extended trips to the free-throw line and timely makes from Harrison, Gianni Hunt, and Noah Pagotto.

Eli continued attacking the rim with a layup and free throw, and Laczkowski added two late finishes. Despite these efforts, East Texas A&M’s combination of second-chance scoring, perimeter efficiency, and steady free-throw shooting kept Army from mounting a full comeback.

The Lions shot 88.2% (15-for-17) from the free-throw line in the second half, compared to Army’s 73.3% (11-for-15), and outscored the Black Knights 38-31 in the period to seal the victory.

Black Knight Standout Performances

Kevin McCarthy led Army with 12 points, shooting 4-for-9 from the field and 4-for-8 from three while adding a team-high four rebounds. All of McCarthy’s points came in the first half, as he went scoreless in the second.

Ryan Curry scored 10 points on 3-for-9 shooting and knocked down two threes while contributing a team-high three assists and three rebounds.

Joshua Eli provided an efficient spark off the bench, scoring a career-high nine points on 3-for-3 shooting while adding two rebounds. Eli’s perfect shooting performance was a bright spot for Army’s offense.

Dillon Watt added six points in seven minutes, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line and hitting a layup.

Jaxson Bell scored five points, including a three, while securing three rebounds and playing strong minutes on the wing.

Jackson Furman added five points with a three-pointer and recorded one steal to help fuel Army’s ball movement.

Jacen Holloway contributed five points with three rebounds and one steal while attacking the paint throughout his 31 minutes.

Tate Laczkowski scored four points and grabbed three rebounds while providing physicality in the frontcourt.

Jackson Mayo chipped in four points, hitting a three and adding a free throw in his five minutes of action.

Alex Engro, Dylan Murans, Jorn Everson, and Dylan Benner also added points for the Black Knights.

Statistical Breakdown

Shooting:

• Army shot 39.3% (22-for-56) from the field, showing strong early efficiency (56% first-half percentage) before a tough-shooting second half (25.8%).
• The Black Knights made nine of 30 three-pointers, finishing at 30% from beyond the arc.
• Army converted 14 of 20 free-throw attempts, shooting 70% at the line.

East Texas A&M shot 50% (27-for-54) from the field, 40% (12-for-30) from three, and 81.8% (18-for-22) from the free-throw line.

Rebounding:

• Army won the rebounding battle 35-34, including 11 offensive rebounds that created nine second-chance points.

Scoring:

• The Black Knights scored 26 points in the paint, finding success with downhill drives and post touches.
• Army’s bench produced 34 points, giving the team a major boost throughout both halves.
• Army recorded 10 points off turnovers but committed 13 turnovers of its own.

East Texas A&M:

• The Lions’ bench contributed 45 points, outscoring Army’s reserves by 11.
• East Texas A&M scored 28 points in the paint and 13 points off turnovers.
• The Lions committed 12 turnovers but held Army to just 10 points off those miscues.

Key Takeaways

1. First-Half Efficiency vs. Second-Half Struggles: Army shot 56% in the first half but just 25.8% in the second, a stark contrast that ultimately decided the game.

2. McCarthy’s First-Half Explosion: Kevin McCarthy’s 12 first-half points kept Army in the game, but his inability to score in the second half left the Black Knights without a consistent scoring threat.

3. Eli’s Career Performance: Joshua Eli’s perfect 3-for-3 shooting and career-high nine points provided a much-needed spark off the bench.

4. Free-Throw Disparity: East Texas A&M’s 81.8% free-throw shooting, particularly in the second half (88.2%), gave the Lions a significant advantage down the stretch.

5. Bench Contributions: Both teams received major contributions from their benches, with East Texas A&M’s 45 bench points outpacing Army’s 34.

What’s Next for Army

The Black Knights play their second game in the FDU Thanksgiving Classic on Wednesday, November 26, at 2 p.m. ET, facing tournament host Fairleigh Dickinson.

The two teams have a long history, with Army holding a 9-5 all-time series record against the Knights. The two programs most recently faced off last season, with Army earning an 84-70 win inside Christl Arena.

The game inside the Bogota Savings Bank Center will tip off at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with the game streaming live on NEC Front Row and the YES Network.

Game Notes

• Army falls to 1-6 overall; East Texas A&M improves to 4-3
• First meeting between the two programs in history
• Kevin McCarthy led Army with 12 points (all in the first half)
• Joshua Eli scored a career-high nine points on perfect 3-for-3 shooting
• Army shot 56% in the first half but just 25.8% in the second
• Army’s bench contributed 34 points; East Texas A&M’s bench scored 45
• Army won the rebounding battle 35-34
• Next game: Fairleigh Dickinson, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2 p.m. ET at Bogota Savings Bank Center

Social Media Hooks

Facebook:“Army West Point men’s basketball fell 67-84 to East Texas A&M in the opening game of the FDU Thanksgiving Classic. Kevin McCarthy led with 12 points, and Joshua Eli scored a career-high nine points on perfect shooting. The Black Knights face Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday at 2 p.m. #GoArmy #PatriotLeague”

LinkedIn:“Army West Point men’s basketball opened the FDU Thanksgiving Classic with a 67-84 loss to East Texas A&M. Kevin McCarthy led with 12 points, and Joshua Eli scored a career-high nine points off the bench. The Black Knights face Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday. #GoArmy #PatriotLeague #CollegeBasketball”

For comprehensive Army West Point athletics coverage, breaking news, game recaps, and insider analysis, subscribe to Bad Dawg Sports for just $12.50/year.

Stay connected with Bad Dawg Sports for comprehensive college basketball coverage.

Follow us on: X | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | LinkedIn | Bluesky