Boston University
Navy
Men's Basketball to Open Patriot League Play at Navy Wednesday Afternoon
December 30, 2025 | Men's Basketball
Boston University (5-8, 0-0 PL) at Navy (8-5, 0-0 PL)
Date & Time: Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 1 p.m.
Venue: Alumni Hall | Annapolis, Md.
X: @BUGameDay | @TerrierMBB
BOSTON – In a matchup of the Patriot League preseason poll's top two programs, the No. 2 Boston University men's basketball team will open conference play against the two 2025 conference tournament final participants, starting with a visit to runner-up and No. 1 Navy Wednesday at 1 p.m.
The Terriers and Midshipmen have faced off in each of the last two Patriot League quarterfinals with the rivals splitting the two meetings at Case Gym. BU enters the latest contest after ending non-conference action with an 88-76 home win over UMass Lowell, while the Midshipmen are riding a four-game win streak, lastly posting a 70-23 home victory against Rosemont.
TERRIER TIDBITS
- One of 11 Terriers to have scored in double digits at least once, junior Michael McNair leads BU at 15.5 ppg while ranking ninth nationally in 3-point shooting percentage (50.0 3FG%) and 14th in made 3-pointers per game (3.46).
- Owner of the team's two double-doubles this season, sophomore Ben Defty is second at 13.0 ppg and leader on the rebounding front at 6.5 rpg. He ranks 11th nationally shooting 64.9 percent from the field and 58th in blocks per game (1.8).
- Freshman Chance Gladden (11.0 ppg) is averaging 4.0 apg while ranking 75th nationally shooting 87.8 percent at the free throw line.
- BU has finished 10-8 in conference play each of the last two seasons, earning the No. 2 seed in 2024 and No. 4 in 2025.
- The Terriers are 1-6 in true road games with the lone win occurring at Northeastern in the season opener, 76-75. Four of the losses have been by single digits, including an overtime defeat at New Hampshire.
SCOUTING NAVY
- The Midshipmen are riding a four-game win streak with wins over Rosemont (70-23), Coppin State (88-55), Air Force (61-56) and Delaware State (66-59). They are 5-1 at home with lone loss coming against Yale, 97-68.
- Navy and BU shared 1 non-conference opponent with Penn State beating the Terriers, 96-87, and the Mids, 80-71.
- Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year and 5-foot-11 guard Austin Benigni leads Navy at 16.4 ppg with 4.3 apg, while 6-foot-11 center Aidan Kehoe is nearly averaging a double-double at 12.8 ppg and 9.4 rpg helped by a 68.9 field goal shooting percentage.
- Navy is averaging 73.1 ppg and 44.9 FG% while holding opponents to 64.5 ppg and 41.0 FG%. The Mids only average 6.1 made 3FGs per game but make up for it with 5.1 more free throws than opponents, 17.6-12.5.
- BU leads the all-time series, 15-13, after a 1-2 performance last season.
- Both home teams won during the regular season by 15+ points before Navy eliminated the Terriers in the PL tournament, 86-78, at Case Gym.
- During the 2023-24 campaign, both home teams won again during the regular season, and BU prevailed in the PL tournament matchup, 70-61.
- Navy has won the last five contests at Alumni Hall, including an 85-80 overtime thriller in the 2022 PL semis, with BU last prevailing in 2020. Coincidentally, BU won the third matchup en route to its first PL title.
- The Terriers won the first-ever meeting in the 1959 NCAA tournament to reach the Elite Eight.
- BU will host defending PL champion American on Saturday (Jan. 3) with a 1 p.m. tip.
- The home team won both times last season with BU first earning a 60-54 victory and the Eagles pulling out a 48-44 decision in the rematch.
- The Terriers are riding a five-game home win streak after AU left Case Gym with 70-66 win back in 2019.
