WEST POINT, N.Y. — Christl Arena has never been a place that hands out favors. You earn everything in that building — possessions, rebounds, clean looks, and especially wins.
On Saturday afternoon, Army West Point men’s basketball earned one the hard way.
Behind a season-high 27 points from point guard Ryan Curry — and a pull-up jumper in the paint with 11.6 seconds left — the Black Knights edged Holy Cross, 69–68, extending their win streak to two and improving to 10–13 (4–6 Patriot League) and 6–6 at home.
The final sequence was exactly what a one-point game demands: one player calm enough to take the shot, and five players disciplined enough to finish the stop.
Afterward, Curry pointed the spotlight where he always does.
“It was awesome. Credit to my teammates — they trust me with the ball — and the coaching staff. Without them, I can’t make that shot. I’m not in the situation to make that shot. I’m just so blessed for that team, Army, and West Point.”
A Game That Refused to Separate
If you’re looking for a stretch where either team owned the afternoon, you won’t find it. The numbers tell the story of a game that lived in the margins:
- Lead changes: 13
- Ties: 13
- Halftime: 33–33
Holy Cross landed the first punches, jumping out 4–0 in the opening minute. Army didn’t panic — it answered with the weapon that kept it alive all day: Curry’s range.
Curry buried a three at 18:36 to get Army on the board, then hit another at 18:00 to flip the early script. By 16:48, he had already drilled his third triple of the half, and Christl Arena had the kind of energy that only comes when a team looks ready to trade blows for 40 minutes.
That three-point barrage wasn’t accidental.
“Just preparation. I felt good in warmups. I felt good the past few days. It’s flow state — it’s really fun when that happens. I just want to keep on doing it.”
And yes, Curry knew he pushed the limits.
“I’m sure Coach Kuester wasn’t too happy with the logo shot, but I had a little heat check.”
That’s what this became: a back-and-forth grind where neither side could string together enough stops to breathe.
Curry Sets the Tone, Army Finds Its Balance
Army’s best moments in the first half came when it paired Curry’s shot-making with just enough interior work to keep Holy Cross honest.
Jaxson Bell provided that spark off the bench — a three to tie it at 14–14, then back-to-back finishes inside to push Army ahead 18–14. Holy Cross responded again, as it did all afternoon, and the half ended fittingly: 33–33, no separation, no comfort.
Second Half: Runs, Answers, and the Rebounding Edge
Holy Cross opened the second half with a quick surge, but Army responded with a run that showed why the Black Knights stayed in control even when the scoreboard didn’t.
Curry hit another three to give Army a 39–37 edge, then Jackson Furman knocked down a triple to extend it to 42–37. Kevin McCarthy added a three of his own, and Army briefly looked like it might finally create space.
But Holy Cross kept coming.
The difference was that Army had a second way to win when shots didn’t fall: owning the glass.
Army finished with a 46–36 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds, turning those extra possessions into 25 second-chance points. In a one-point game, that’s not a footnote — it’s the foundation.
Joshua Eli embodied it, posting nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds in 27 minutes. That work kept Army afloat through missed free throws and empty trips.
The Final Minutes: One Possession, One Stop
Down the stretch, the game tightened into what it had been all day: one possession at a time.
Holy Cross briefly surged ahead 66–63 on a late three. Army answered the way good teams answer: with its best player making a winning play.
At 2:42, Curry buried a clutch three and drew contact, completing a four-point play to swing the moment back toward Army.
Still, it came down to the last possession.
After Holy Cross took a one-point lead at the line with 0:26 left, Army put the ball in Curry’s hands — not because it was the only option, but because it was the right one.
Curry drove, rose, and hit a jumper inside the paint with 11.6 seconds to play.
Then Army did the part that doesn’t show up in highlight packages: it defended Christl Arena.
Holy Cross never got a clean look for a game-winner. The Black Knights forced a contested final attempt, and the horn sounded with Army still standing.
What It Means
This wasn’t a perfect performance. Army shot 6-for-16 at the line and had to survive a game that swung back and forth all afternoon.
But it was a winning performance — the kind that matters in February.
Curry made it clear what has to travel next.
“First, it starts with defending Christl. We dropped a few at Christl, and that’s not our brand. That’s not our identity.”
“We’ve got to keep winning here. We’ve got to go steal some on the road. We’ve got some tough places to win in the Patriot League, but we’re capable.”
Black Knights News:
- Army Women’s Tennis Tops UConn 4–1 Behind Singles Surge
- Nik Hong Once Again the Hero for Army in 3-2 Overtime Victory at Holy Cross
- Army West Point Responds After Navy, Holds Off Lehigh 67–64 for First Patriot League Home Win
“It’s the next step for this young team, and we’ve got another great shot at one of the best teams in the league in Colgate.”
“We’ll get back to work Monday, and we’ll get it going.”
Army is now on a two-game win streak, and the path forward is clear: if the Black Knights keep rebounding like this, keep getting contributions off the bench, and keep letting Curry steer the late-game moments, they’ll be a problem in the Patriot League race.
By the Numbers
- Final: Army 69, Holy Cross 68
- Ryan Curry: 27 points (9–17 FG, 7–12 3PT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists
- Jorn Everson: 11 points, 3 threes, 4 rebounds, 1 block
- Joshua Eli: 9 points, 12 rebounds
- Rebounds: Army 46, Holy Cross 36
- Offensive rebounds: Army 17
- Second-chance points: Army 25, Holy Cross 11
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Up Next:
Army heads back on the road to face Colgate on Wednesday, Feb. 4 (7 p.m. ET) in Hamilton, N.Y., looking to avenge a 76–69 home loss from Jan. 3.
Mandatory game details: Holy Cross (8–15, 3–7 Patriot) at Army West Point (10–13, 4–6 Patriot), Jan. 31, 2026 — Christl Arena (Attendance: 1,165).
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