Washington, D.C. – The clap of hard soles and a gasp from Army’s bench cut through Bender Arena as a fast break sputtered and the ball rattled off the rim. In a game where every bounce mattered, the Black Knights were unable to sustain their early momentum for the full 40 minutes and ultimately lost to American University, 75–63, on Saturday afternoon.
The loss is Army’s fourth straight and completes a season sweep for the Eagles. With the defeat, the Black Knights drop further toward the bottom of the Patriot League standings, making their path to a higher tournament seed that much tougher. At this rate, Army is likely staring at a first-round game against one of the league’s powerhouses, with little rest and no margin for error—a situation that makes a deep run in the conference tournament far less likely. Army’s hopes of avoiding that early-round matchup now hinge on finishing strong in their remaining games. The pressure is on as each contest becomes vital for positioning in the upcoming conference tournament.
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Quick Hit
- Final: American 75, Army 63
- Records: Army (10–17, 4–10), American (14–13, 7–7)
- Where: Bender Arena (Washington, D.C.)
- When: 02/14/26 (Valentine’s Day)
- Attendance: 1,063
Key Performers (Army)
Four Black Knights finished in double figures:
- Jaxson Bell: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals (6-for-6 FT)
- Jorn Everson: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
- Jackson Furman: 12 points, 5 rebounds, team-high 5 assists, 1 block (4 threes)
- Jacen Holloway: 10 points (4-for-6 FG), 2 rebounds, 2 assists
How It Started
Army looked ready to flip the script early.
Army’s tendency to lose momentum after energetic starts repeated itself in Washington. With a short rotation and key players logging heavy minutes, the team’s stamina waned as the game progressed, revealing a lack of depth that opponents have increasingly exploited with defensive adjustments. Army’s 2–10 record when leading by eight or more early in games demonstrates that initial surges do not often result in victories, underscoring the need for sustained intensity and adaptability. The numbers tell the story: after the 10-minute mark, Army’s offensive efficiency dropped from 1.15 points per possession in the first quarter of play to just 0.82 over the final 30 minutes—a dip that has tracked closely with their record in similar situations all season. This broader pattern was evident from the opening moments in Saturday’s contest: Kevin McCarthy opened the scoring with a putback, and Jorn Everson hit a pair of early threes as the Black Knights raced to an 8–0 start. The ball was moving, the defense was active, and Ryan Curry’s pressure fueled the early run.
How did the Eagles flip the momentum so quickly after Army’s hot start? American steadied itself, then swung the game with a decisive mid-half surge. After tying it at 14, the Eagles grabbed their first lead and turned it into separation with a 12–2 run, using transition chances and timely threes to push in front 26–16. American’s coaching staff dialed up more aggressive pick-and-roll coverage, blitzing Curry at the top of the key and forcing Army into extra passes and rushed decisions, which fueled those transition opportunities. Army answered with back-to-back triples from Curry and Furman to get within striking distance, but American closed the half with another push and took a 36–27 lead into the break.
How it Ended
The Black Knights made their best move right out of halftime.
McCarthy buried a three, Tate Laczkowski protected the rim and finished on the other end, and Everson threw down a dunk in transition as Army cut the margin to 40–36 and briefly shifted the momentum.
But the Eagles responded like a team that knew exactly where the pressure points were.
American punished turnovers, got to the line, and stretched the lead back out, building the cushion to as many as 17. The pivotal moment came with just under four minutes left: Army tried to break the press, but a rushed crosscourt pass was picked off by American’s Jaiden Ellis, who flew down the floor for a layup, drew a foul from Bell, and converted the and-one. That sequence sucked the air out of the comeback push and left Army chasing two possessions later. Army kept competing and hit late threes (including Furman’s triple that made it 67–58 with 2:44 left), but American iced the finish at the free-throw line to close out the 75–63 win.
By the Numbers
- Army shot 21 for 54. That’s 38.9 percent from the field, including 9 for 23 from deep (39.1 percent).
- Below the season average. Below league average. Their usual mark is 43.5 percent (NCAA, 2026), compared to the Patriot League’s roughly 43 percent (Patriot League, 2026).
- American shot 26 for 49. That’s 53.1 percent. A stark gap.
- Army won the glass 31 to 27. Hit more threes, 9 to 7.
- Twenty assists on 21 made shots. Usually, that means a win for Army. Not this time. Ball movement alone wasn’t enough. Cold shooting and costly decisions beat them instead.
- Fifteen turnovers. Seventeen American points. Minus twelve in turnover margin—same as the final score difference. Turnovers. Game over.
- American’s bench outscored Army’s, 29 to 24.
Black Knights News
More Black Knights coverage from Bad Dawg Sports:
- Army Finishes the Sweep and Runs American Off the Floor, 86–56
- Clemson Rolled in Game 2 and Blanked Army 10–0 to Take Control of the Series
- Army Had No. 19 Clemson on the Ropes — Then One Mistake Flipped Opening Day
- Army Women’s Tennis Sweeps UT 4–0, Wins 10th Straight Ahead of Rival Air Force Showdown
Black Knight Bullet Points
- Bell’s 13 came with impact plays: 2 steals, 3 assists, and perfect work at the line.
- Furman provided the perimeter punch off the bench with 4 made threes.
- Laczkowski led Army with 8 rebounds.
Up Next
Army continues its road stretch on Wednesday, Feb. 18, traveling to Baltimore to face Loyola Maryland. Loyola enters the game with momentum, highlighted by backcourt leader Cam Spencer’s strong scoring and contributions from freshman Alex Porter. Notably, Loyola’s recent home victory over a top Patriot League opponent and its defense, which has averaged over 12 forced turnovers across the last five games, directly challenge Army’s recent weaknesses: turnover issues and offensive inefficiency under pressure. Consequently, this contest centers on Army’s ability to secure possession and withstand Loyola’s defensive pressure, factors that will be critical in determining whether the Black Knights can reverse their current trend and improve their tournament standing.
The Greyhounds took the first meeting at Christl Arena, 84–76 in overtime, while Army won last season’s matchup in Baltimore, 64–60 (Feb. 12, 2025).
- Tip: 7:00 p.m. ET. Circle this tip time or set your alert now—catch all the action live on ESPN+.
- Where: Reitz Arena (Baltimore, Md.)
- Watch: ESPN+
Game Info
- Army West Point vs. American
- Date/Time: 02/14/26 — 2:00 p.m. ET
- Site: Bender Arena, Washington, D.C.
- Attendance: 1,063
- Final: American 75, Army 63
Bad Dawg Sports: Real reporting – Real access – Analysis you can trust.
Army didn’t win this game in the first half, and the margin American built in the middle stretches was too much to erase, even with a second-half push.
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