EASTON, Pa.- Sophomore center Justin Vander Baan's career-high 12 points was not enough to overcome Navy, as the Leopards fell by a 53-34 final inside Kirby Sports Center on Wednesday evening.

Vander Baan scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds, as well adding an assist and a block to lead Lafayette. The Leopards were held to 28.6 percent shooting from the floor and 19 percent from beyond the arc.

The Midshipmen kicked off the evening with the advantage of a 12-9 stretch down to the 13-minute mark. Vander Baan put up six of the Leopards' points on a dunk, layup and turn-around jump shot. CJ Fulton hit the equalizer at 12:05, 12-12. A 9-9 stretch followed down to 4:56, with another tie, 21-21, at 4:56. Vander Baan's four points added up for a new career-high 10 during that team.

Navy made a 9-2 run to close out the first half with a 30-23 lead heading into the locker room. The Midshipmen shot 52.2 percent from the floor and 50 percent from beyond the arc over the course of the first 20 minutes of play.

Navy pressed the gas to open the second half with a 13-5 run, powered by five different players with multiple points. Fulton accounted for all of Lafayette's five points in the run as Lafayette trailed 43-28 at 13:39.

TJ Berger and Kyle Jenkins combined for six points at 7:21 as Lafayette cut the deficit to 47-34. Both teams were held scoreless for the final five minutes of play.

That opening push, along with a final 10-minute stretch of cold shooting for the Leopards, sealed the game for the Midshipmen, 53-34. Navy's Daniel Deaver led the Midshipmen with 16 points, shooting 8-for-11 ­from the floor.

The Leopards host Lehigh in the second iteration of the Rivalry on Saturday with a 1 p.m. tip-off. There will be free pizza for all students in attendance courtesy of student life and athletics. Lafayette will be holding an Alumni Day against the Mountain Hawks with pregame and postgame activities for all former men's basketball players. To register, please visit gopards.co/3HmOrPs. 


For the latest on the Lafayette College men's basketball program, follow the Leopards on Twitter @LafayetteMBB and Instagram @lafayettembb.