Jan. 16, 2010
Box Score
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Lafayette finished with three players in double figures led by forward Ryan Willen (26) in a 90-77 win at Navy Saturday night at Alumni Hall. The win is the Leopards' fifth consecutive and gives Lafayette sole possession of first place in the Patriot League at 3-0.
Willen went 10-of-16 from the field and had a team high eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Jim Mower added 20 and Jared Mintz chipped in 18 points going 8-of-9 from the line.
Lafayette (12-6, 3-0) played without Mintz for much of the first half after he picked up two early fouls, but the Lafayette offense kept clicking. With Mintz on the bench, Lafayette tore off a 13-0 run from 11:28 to 7:38 bookended by three's from Mower. Lafayette led 34-19. The Leopards' top scoring half of the season resulted in a 20-point halftime lead (53-33). Willen led the way with 13 first-half points.
Nine minutes into the second half, Navy cut the Leopards' lead to nine on two occasions, both times on Chris Harris three's. Willen who finish one point short of a career-high, answered with two field goals to put Lafayette ahead 74-61.
Navy (8-10, 2-1) was led by Harris with 24 points, including 8-for-8 from the line. Jordon Sugars finished with 18 and Jeremy Wilson netted 12 points. The Mids shot 89 percent from the line and 52 percent from three-point range, but were only able to hit 39 percent from the field.
The Leopards' crisp offense finished shooting 54 percent from the field and 50 percent from long range. Lafayette had 20 assists to 10 turnovers following the fist half when they doled out 14 assists with only three turnovers. Both teams grabbed 34 rebounds.
Lafayette returns home for one game, hosting Bucknell (6-13, 1-2) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Kirby Sports Center. The Leopards are 7-1 at home in the 2009-10 season.
NOTES:
Lafayette was last 3-0 in the Patriot League in 2007-08 when Lafayette opened with four straight wins.
Nick Petkovich did not play on Saturday, due to an eye infection.
This is the third time this season Lafayette has reached 90 points.
