EASTON, Pa. – Caleb Williams and Justin Vander Baan combined for 32 points in a 61-51 victory over Navy on Saturday afternoon in Kirby Sports Center.

Williams led the squad with 17 points on a 7-of-13 outing from the floor. 15 of his points came in the second half, giving Lafayette the push it needed to stay out front consistently.

Vander Baan secured his third double-double of the year, posting 15 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks after missing the last game due to illness. 

Lafayette shot 47 percent from the floor on 51 attempts and connected on six shots from beyond the arc, half coming through Williams. Navy was held to 29.7 percent from the field, the second lowest of the season for a Leopard opponent, and limited to five 3-pointers.

The Leopards held the Midshipmen scoreless through the first nine minutes of the initial half, forcing a trio of turnovers and grabbing five offensive rebounds to lead 8-2.

Navy's early attempt to regroup was wilted by Folabomi Fayemi's 3-pointer to hold the 13-6 advantage at 9:47.

Lafayette kept on the gas, putting together a 15-7 stretch down to the three-minute mark. The hosts led 23-9 using 6-of-9 from the floor.

The Midshipmen tacked on seven points before Mark Butler added two foul shots to close out the first half up 25-16. Both programs were limited to one bucket from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes.

The Maroon and White pushed on through the second half, taking a 9-4 spurt to 15:33. Alex Chaikin's four points extended the advantage to 14 points, leading 34-20.

Chaikin proceeded to lay down eight more points, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the following two minutes. The Williamsburg, Va. native guided the Leopards to a game-high 44-27 hold on the Midshipmen at the 12-minute mark.

Navy used an 11-7 run to 8:22 to cut the gap back down to 13, trailing 51-38. Even play ensued over the next six minutes as Williams added five points to his second half outing to keep Lafayette safely on top, 58-45.

The Midshipmen were forced to foul from there on out, allowing Vander Baan and Butler a combined three points from the charity stripe for a 61-51 victory.

Austin Benigni led the two opponents in double figures with 17 points, shooting 7-of-19 from the field and 5-for-5 from the foul line.

Lafayette out-rebounded Navy 40-33, despite the Midshipmen's 11-6 margin on the offensive glass. 

Next up, the Leopards travel to American on Monday for a 6 p.m. tip-off, featured on CBS Sports Network.


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