Army West Point Makes History With 118-41 Rout of Mount Saint Mary

By: J.J. Pavlick | Elmont, NY | November 5, 2026 |

Black Knights set a program scoring record, shot 60 percent from three-point range, and get all 16 players into the scoring column in the dominant home opener.

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army West Point men’s basketball turned its home opener into a historic night Thursday, overwhelming Mount Saint Mary College 118-41 at Christl Arena. The Black Knights established a new program record for points in a single game, showcasing the depth and offensive firepower of a team that had contributions from every player who entered the contest.

Coming off an 84-50 season-opening loss to No. 2 Duke, Army responded with an emphatic performance in front of its home crowd. The Black Knights wasted little time taking control, opening the game with an 8-1 run and steadily widening the margin until Mount Saint Mary was facing a 51-12 deficit at halftime.

Army’s 118 points surpassed the previous program scoring mark, and all 16 Black Knights who appeared in the game found the scoring column. The final margin was 77 points, but the story was about more than the scoreboard: Army’s starters established control early, their reserves sustained the pressure, and the entire roster contributed to a record-setting offensive display.

Army Establishes Control From the Opening Minutes

Jacen Holloway got the Black Knights started with a layup in the paint before Kevin McCarthy connected on consecutive three-pointers. Holloway assisted on McCarthy’s first shot from beyond the arc, while Ryan Curry set up the second, giving Army an 8-1 advantage with 15:57 remaining in the opening half.

The Black Knights continued to find their rhythm. Jaden Ellis added a layup and a three-pointer during the next stretch, with Dillon Watt providing the assist on Ellis’ shot from deep. Watt added a basket of his own, and Nnaemeka Ikechi converted three free throws as Army pushed the lead to 18-4.

Army’s defense made it difficult for the Knights to establish any offensive consistency. Dylan Benner converted a layup after a steal by Tate Laczkowski, who followed with a basket of his own off an assist from Jahaan Green. Curry and McCarthy added layups as the Black Knights stretched the advantage to 26-6.

The separation continued through the remainder of the half. Dylan Murans scored on a layup, Curry drove to the basket and completed a three-point play, and Ikechi and Watt added points at the free-throw line. Holloway contributed another layup as Army moved ahead 39-10 with 4:38 left before halftime.

Army closed the half with another decisive push. Curry knocked down his first three-pointer of the night off a Watt assist, McCarthy added another shot from deep following a pass from Benner, and Watt continued to produce at the line. Benner then connected from three-point range with 29 seconds remaining, sending Army into the locker room with a commanding 51-12 lead.

The Black Knights shot 69.6 percent from the field and 60 percent from three-point range in the opening half. Mount Saint Mary, meanwhile, managed just four field goals in 27 attempts before the break.

Second-Half Surge Carries Army to the Record

There was no letup after halftime. Army opened the second half by outscoring Mount Saint Mary 15-6 over the first five minutes, extending its lead to 66-18.

Holloway opened the scoring with another layup, Curry connected from three-point range, and Laczkowski added consecutive baskets around the rim. McCarthy and Benner each hit another three-pointer as Army continued to make the most of its opportunities.

The lead reached 77-23 with 12:36 remaining after Curry drove for a layup, Green scored his first basket, and Ikechi finished inside off a Watt assist. Watt then added a three-pointer and a fast-break layup, reaching 12 points while helping keep Army’s offense moving.

The Black Knights continued to attack from every area of the floor. Ellis knocked down his second three-pointer, Green threw down a fast-break dunk after a steal, and Murans connected from beyond the arc off an Ellis assist. Army reached the 90-point mark with under nine minutes remaining when Brendon O’Keefe buried a three-pointer.

Henry Rasmussen and Patrick McDonough added to the three-point total, while O’Keefe connected again from deep. McDonough finished with three three-pointers, providing another example of the contributions coming from throughout the lineup.

As Army moved past the century mark, the record became a team accomplishment in every sense. Michael Masini scored from the free-throw line before adding a layup and a dunk. Deke Cooper Jr. contributed a basket in the paint, and the Black Knights continued to find ways to score as the clock moved toward the final minutes.

Masini delivered another highlight with a fast-break layup and completed the three-point play to bring Army to 114 points with 1:58 remaining. He followed with a dunk after a steal, pushing the total to 116.

Parker Henderson provided the final basket of Army’s historic night, finishing a layup off a Masini assist with 1:18 left. The basket brought the Black Knights to 118 points and established the program’s new single-game scoring record. Mount Saint Mary added five points in the final minute, but the record-setting result was secure.

McCarthy Leads a Balanced Army Attack

McCarthy paced the Black Knights with 14 points, shooting 5-for-8 from the field and 4-for-7 from three-point range. He also recorded three rebounds, one assist and one steal in just over 20 minutes.

Curry was nearly flawless, finishing with 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting. He made both of his three-point attempts and his only free throw, while adding two assists and a steal.

Watt supplied 12 points off the bench and led Army with five assists. He shot 3-for-4 from the floor and 5-for-6 at the free-throw line, adding three rebounds.

Ikechi finished with 11 points and a team-high five rebounds, converting nine of his 10 free-throw attempts. McDonough added nine points, making three of his four attempts from beyond the arc.

Benner and Ellis each scored eight points. Benner shot 3-for-4 from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, while Ellis was perfect from the floor, going 3-for-3 and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.

Masini added seven points in limited action, while Holloway, Laczkowski, and O’Keefe each finished with six. Rasmussen and Murans contributed five apiece, Green scored four, and Cooper Jr. and Henderson each added two.

The depth of the performance was reflected in Army’s 71 bench points. The Black Knights also recorded 22 assists, eight steals, and seven blocked shots.

Defensive Pressure Completes the Performance

Army’s offensive efficiency was matched by a disciplined defensive effort. Mount Saint Mary finished 14-for-61 from the field, shooting 23 percent, and made six of its 23 three-point attempts. The Knights managed only 12 points in the first half and 29 after the break.

Army controlled the glass, finishing with a 44-27 rebounding advantage, and forced 13 turnovers. The Black Knights turned those opportunities into 26 points off turnovers while also scoring 46 points in the paint and 14 in transition.

Mount Saint Mary was led by Nazier Sanders, who scored eight points. Rj Delahaye added six, while Daniel Herzner finished with five. The Knights were held to just two assists as a team.

A Record-Setting Response at West Point

Army’s final numbers told the story of a team firing on all cylinders: 41 field goals on 60 attempts, 18 three-pointers on 30 attempts, and a 68.3 percent overall shooting performance. The Black Knights shot 60 percent from beyond the arc and had six players reach double figures.

More importantly, the victory gave Army its first win of the 2026-27 season and provided a memorable response after the season-opening challenge at Duke. The Black Knights did not rely on one player to carry the night. They received production from the starting group, energy from the bench, and scoring contributions from all 16 players who entered the game.

The 118-41 final will stand as a landmark result in Army men’s basketball history. At Christl Arena, the Black Knights turned their home opener into a record-setting statement, one built on efficient shooting, defensive pressure, and a full-roster effort.