BOSTON – In an efficient high-scoring game that featured both squads shooting over 52 percent from the field, the Boston University men's basketball team dropped an 83-74 decision to Army West Point on Saturday afternoon at Case Gym.

Clinging to a 73-72 lead with 2:08 remaining in regulation, the Black Knights (11-8, 5-1 PL) netted eight free throw attempts down the stretch to finish on a 10-2 run and claim their eighth win in 11 contests, as the Terriers fell to 9-10 (2-4 PL). The teams combined for just 48 rebounds with Army shooting 60.4 FG% and the Terriers finishing at 52.9 FG%.

Graduate student Walter Whyte totaled a team-high 16 points to become the 10th Terrier in program history to reach the 1,500-point milestone. Classmate Jonas Harper netted three 3-pointers en route to 15 points with senior Ethan Brittain-Watts (11) and junior Caelan Jones (10) both finishing in double figures as well. 

A fellow preseason All-PL honoree alongside Whyte, Jalen Rucker drained four 3-pointers and added seven free throws on eight attempts to post a game-high 29 points while dishing out five assists. Ethan Roberts (15) and Charlie Peterson (11) both scored in double figures, and Abe Johnson earned a game-high seven rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Army scored the game's first seven points and extended the lead to 17-6 at 13:55 on TJ Small's 3-pointer.
• Facing a 20-11 deficit with 10:59 left in the half, Whyte scored on a layup and hit back-to-back bombs with Jones to pull within one, 20-19.
• Harper eventually tied the game, 25-25, at 6:10 on a layup, but BU could never grab the lead.
• Brittain-Watts scored from downtown to tie the game for the final time, 34-34, at 2:10, and responded to a quick 6-0 Army spurt with a buzzer-beating layup to put the Terriers' halftime deficit at 40-36.
• Harper started the second half with a 3-pointer, but Army came right back with a jumper from Evan Benson and then a 3-pointer from Rucker following senior Nevin Zink's short jumper to remain ahead, 45-41.
• Trailing by as many as eight (51-43) with 16:05 remaining, BU chipped away and pulled within one (62-61) at 8:39 on Whyte's final bucket of the game.
• The teams traded blows for the next six minutes with Zink keeping the deficit at one (73-72) on Whyte's assist at 2:33.
• Isaiah Caldwell scored on Army's next possession with a layup at 2:07, and Rucker added two free throws at 1:17 following a defensive stop to extend the lead to 77-72.
• Army sealed the win by forcing BU into a pair of turnovers during the final minute.

GAME NOTES

• Having scored 1,500 points, Whyte now just needs 45 rebounds to become the third in program history to also have 800 boards after Tunji Awojobi ('97) and Paul Hendricks ('87) both accomplished the feat during their respective careers.
• Jones has now scored in double figures twice this season after hitting the mark once last year.
• Harper now ranks tied-for-seventh in the record book at 196 career treys. He added a steal to reach 135, 10 shy of tying for ninth all-time, while also tying a career best with two blocks.
• BU outscored Army off turnovers, 24-18, and in bench production (25-22), but the Black Knights had a 9-5 edge in second-chance points and 17-5 advantage in fastbreak opportunities while also posting a 17-11 lead in made free throws.
• Finishing 29-of-48, Army was the first opponent to shoot over 60 FG% since Navy went a nearly identical 29-of-47 (.617) in a 79-74 win back on March 2, 2019.

UP NEXT

• BU will visit Navy on Wednesday (Jan. 18) at 7 p.m.
• The Midshipmen used an 11-1 run with under 6:30 to play to win the conference opener between the two teams at Case Gym back on Dec. 30, 75-58.