Army Tops Bucknell for Fifth Straight Win

Wednesday, January 29

West Point, NY

11 AM

Army West Point

10-10,5-4Patrio

Bucknell

9-13,5-4Patriot

Bucknell

Army West Point

Army Tops Bucknell for Fifth Straight Win

January 29, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point men's basketball team continued its winning ways after topping Bucknell, 68-59, in a Patriot League tilt on Wednesday afternoon at Christl Arena.

The Black Knights (10-10, 5-4 Patriot League) not only extended their winning streak to five games, but also picked up their first win over the Bison (9-13, 5-4 Patriot League) since March 5, 2014.

In his final regular season game against his brother, Tommy Funk went for a team-high 19 points with five assists for Army. The senior point guard also crashed the glass and capped the game with six boards.

Matt Wilson was his efficient self in the low post, dropping 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting to pair with two rebounds and a block. Josh Caldwell put up 11 in the scoring column on 4-of-8 shooting while reeling in seven boards.

Army also got contributions from two of its starters, Alex King and Lonnie Grayson, who combined for 20 points after tallying 10 apiece. King was the Black Knights' top rebounder, finishing the contest with eight.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

The five-game winning streak is the longest by an Army squad since the 2015-16 season (Feb. 8-23).
All five of the starters for the Black Knights put up double-digit points.
Army had five Cadets score in double figures in a game for the second time this season.
Funk extended his double-digit scoring streak to 16 games.
He started in his 114th consecutive game.
The Warrington, Pa., native handed out five or more assists in a game for the 16th time this season.
Funk took sole possession of 11th in career steals at West Point with 93.
Wilson reached double-digit points for the eighth consecutive contest.
Caldwell logged his second straight double-digit scoring performance.
The sophomore now has 21 points and 17 rebounds in his last two outings.
Army scored 62 percent of its points from inside the paint.
The starters accounted for 97 percent of the Cadets' points.
The Black Knights won the rebounding battle, 38-33.
Army dished out 15 assists on 26 made field goals.
It was the first home win for the Black Knights versus the Bison since Jan. 19, 2014.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams got off to very different starts as Army opened the contest on an 11-2 run that lasted seven minutes of action. Over that stretch, the Black Knights shot 50 percent from the field with Funk leading the way with five in the scoring column. Meanwhile, Bucknell struggled to get into a rhythm and opened play by shooting 1-of-4 from the floor with three turnovers.
The advantage for Army grew to 13, 19-6, with 10:25 on the clock following two baskets apiece by Wilson and King. Despite the Bison pulling within five following an 8-0 run, a 3-pointer by Grayson late in the opening frame had the Black Knights heading into the locker room up by nine, 34-25.
Bucknell came out for the second half on fire, knocking down four of its first four shots from the field during an 11-4 run. It turned into a back-and-forth battle in the second half as the Bison had an answer for every Army score.
With 8:41 remaining in the game, Jimmy Sotos for Bucknell buried a 3-pointer to bring his team within two, 53-51, before a pair of foul shots on the ensuing possession by John Meeks evened the score.
The Black Knights did not flinch, and a 13-2 run brought the lead back to double digits before Army closed out the contest to secure the, 68-59, home win.

UP NEXT
Army will travel to Bethlehem, Pa., on Saturday for a 7 p.m. Patriot League tilt against Lehigh.