Offensive Barrage Powers Black Knights Past Lafayette, 94-74

Wednesday, January 22

Easton, PA

7 PM

Army West Point

8-10,3-4Patriot

Lafayette

11-7,3-4Patriot

Army West Point

Lafayette

Lonnie Grayson takes the ball to the basket against Bucknell

Offensive Barrage Powers Black Knights Past Lafayette, 94-74

January 22, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. – It was a night remember for the Army West Point men's basketball team as five Cadets scored in double figures to help the Black Knights capture a 94-74 Patriot League road victory against Lafayette.

The Black Knights (8-10, 3-4 Patriot League) put together one of their best overall shooting performances in recent years and connected on 63 percent of their shots from the field against the second-best scoring defense in the league.

Matt Wilson, who was 11-of-16 from the field, finished his night against the Leopards (11-7, 3-4 Patriot League) with a game-high 23 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists. It was the second time in the latest three-game stretch that the Alexandria, Ky., native dropped over 20 points while knocking down double-digit shots in a game.

He was not the only one to eclipse the 20-point mark though as Lonnie Grayson tied his career-high scoring output of 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. The junior guard was on fire from long range, connecting on five of his seven attempts from deep. He also added four assists and four rebounds to his stat line.

Tommy Funk orchestrated Army's offense to a season-best scoring total of 94 points and did so by not only putting up 19 in the scoring column, but also by dishing out 11 assists with just one turnover. He got it done on the defensive side of the ball as well, holding the Leopards' leading scorer for the season, Justin Jaworski, to nine points on 4-of-11 shooting.

Alex King capped his evening with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Tucker Blackwell was a spark off the bench finishing with 10 points after not missing a shot on four tries from the field.

As a team, the Black Knights took great care of the basketball, totaling 25 assists on 40 made shots with just four turnovers.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

The 94 points scored was the most by an Army squad since the Black Knights put up 94 in a road win at Marist on Nov. 18, 2017.
For the first time this season, five different Cadets reached double-digit scoring in the same game. It marks the first time that occurred in a game since Jan. 25, 2017 against Boston University.
The four turnovers tied a season-low that was set last Thursday (Jan. 16) against Holy Cross. It also tied the lowest total in the last two decades by the Cadets.
The Black Knights shot over 60 percent from the field for the first time since Nov. 30, 2016 in a 97-78 home win against Fairleigh Dickinson.
The Cadets are now 6-1 in games this season when shooting 50 percent or better from the field.
It's the first time since the 2016-17 season that Army connected on over 50 percent of its shots in three consecutive outings.
The Black Knights put up 51 second-half points, marking the second straight game that the Cadets scored 51 points in the final stanza.
Wilson notched his fourth 20-point scoring performance of the season and the 13th of his career. It is the second time in a six-day period that he recorded 20 or more points.
The Alexandria, Ky., native tied his career-best mark of 11 made shots from the field. He last made 11 field goals in a game against UMass Lowell on Nov. 17, 2018.
It's the fifth time in his career that he made double-digit shots in a contest.
Wilson moved into 11th in program history in points scored with 1,366 and climbed his way into sixth in career field goals made with 585.
Funk extended his double-digit scoring streak to 14 games.
He posted his second consecutive double-double and 11-assist outing.
It's the first time in his career that he handed out double-digit helpers in back-to-back contests.
The Warrington, Pa., now has seven double-doubles for his career and three this season.
He moved into 18th in program history in points scored with 1,286.
Grayson notched his second career 20-point scoring performance.
He tied his career-high mark of eight made field goals in a game.
Blackwell was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and reached double-digit scoring for the second straight tilt.
Army assisted on 63 percent of its made shots.
Fifty-five percent of the Black Knights' scoring came from inside the paint.
Army picked up its 32nd all-time win against Lafayette and have now won three in a row in the series.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Despite falling in an early 7-2 hole, the Black Knights quickly bounced back and got into a rhythm offensively. Army went 3-for-4 from long range and used 11 unanswered points to grab its first lead of the game with 11:38 left in the opening frame. Lafayette got as close as three, 31-28, with 2:57 on the clock, but the Black Knights closed out the half on a 12-2 run after shooting 5-of-5 from the field and 2-of-2 from deep.
The momentum carried into the second half for the Cadets as the lead grew as large as 17, 50-33, in the opening 1:30 following a Grayson trey. The Leopards continuously tried to cut into the deficit, but Army was able to keep a safe distance by getting quality baskets off stellar ball movement.
From 12:54-5:38, the Black Knights outscored the Leopards, 20-19, but what stood out the most was that all eight shots made by Army were assisted on. At that point, the Cadets led 85-68 and comfortably held on to secure the road win.

UP NEXT
Army will head to Annapolis, Md., for a Saturday afternoon meeting against service-academy rival Navy with tipoff slated for 1:30 p.m. The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network with Jason Knapp and Mo Cassara providing the in-game coverage.