BOSTON – Led by a strong defensive effort and four Terriers scoring in double figures, the Boston University men's basketball team claimed a 71-63 victory over Army West Point at Case Gym Sunday afternoon.

With its third straight home victory, BU improved to 7-8 and 1-1 in Patriot League play to snap a three-game losing streak in the series with the Black Knights, who fell to 6-8 (0-2 PL). The Terriers shot 50.9 percent from the field and held Army to 40.7 FG%, as the Black Knights finished 15.5 points below their season average. Army built a 10-point advantage in the middle of the first half, but BU was able to chip away and eventually grab the lead for good on junior Ben Roy's lone 3-pointer at 2:12.

Helped by a career-tying five 3-pointers, sophomore Michael McNair totaled a game-tying 17 points alongside three steals, and graduate student Miles Brewster tallied 12 points, four assists and three steals. Roy came off the bench to produce a career-high 12 points and five rebounds with three assists, while senior Ben Palacios recorded 10 points.

Though he posted a game-tying 17 points, Jalen Rucker finished at 38.9 FG%, while McNair went 5-of-7 from behind the arc on the way to shooting 66.7 FG% in his 14th consecutive start. Both Josh Scovens and Ryan Curry flushed three 3-pointers to end the contest with 13 points apiece. Despite AJ Allenspach hauling in a game-high 10 rebounds, BU dominated the battle at the boards, 37-27.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Army quickly grabbed an 8-2 lead to start with both Curry and Scovens scoring from behind the arc, but junior Otto Landrum flushed a 3-pointer to spark a 7-0 spurt capped by McNair's layup at 15:15.
• Jorn Everson and Scovens hit back-to-back treys with Kendall Hailey adding another to help the Black Knights grab their largest lead, 21-11, with 9:37 remaining.
• After Curry's two free throws moved Army ahead, 31-25, at 5:06, Palacios fed McNair for a 3-pointer and shortly thereafter drove to the hoop for a layup, as the Terriers ended the half on a 15-4 run.
• Sophomore Kyrone Alexander followed Roy's go-ahead 3-point bucket with one of his own to help BU enter the locker room leading, 40-35.
• After McNair and Scovens exchanged 3-pointers to start the second half, McNair added another at 16:45, as the Terriers used jumpers from Alexander and Roy to grab their largest lead, 50-38, with 15:30 remaining.
• Army called a timeout and quickly cut the deficit to three points (50-47), as Rucker responded with a 3-pointer and 3-point play before Curry flushed another trey.
• Facing a 54-47 deficit on a Brewster free throw, Curry struck again from behind the arc and set up Rucker's 3-pointer at 7:14.
• On the next possession after a BU called timeout, Brewster drove to the hoop for the layup and helped set up McNair's fifth 3-pointer to pull ahead, 59-53, at 5:11.
• Over the final five minutes, Army was never able to cut BU's lead below six points, as the Terriers helped their own cause with four free throws during the last 48 seconds to seal the victory.

GAME NOTES

• With Roy topping his previous best of 11 points scored against Bryant last season, BU has now had eight Terriers score in double figures this campaign.
• Before earning a personal-best five rebounds against Army, Roy had reached four boards on four occasions, including Thursday's contest at Lafayette.
• Nobili tied his previous season high of seven rebounds set back in November against Wagner.
• McNair has now scored in double figures six times this season after accomplishing the feat just once a year prior.
• Brewster claimed a season-tying three steals for the fourth time this year after totaling just two over the previous four games.
• Army outscored BU off turnovers, 19-11 and added an 11-9 edge in 3-pointers, but BU finished ahead of the Black Knights in the paint, 32-24, and at the charity stripe, 8-4.
• BU's bench also held a 22-15 advantage in offensive production.
• The Terriers extended their series lead to 23-19 after earning their first home win over Army since prevailing in a 75-74 decision back in 2022.

UP NEXT

• BU will remain home and host American on Wednesday (Jan. 8) at 7 p.m.
• The Terriers swept the series last year, 67-52 at AU and 72-68 at BU, to improve to 6-1 over the last seven meetings.