Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
11-9,5-2Patriot
Bucknell University
8-12,1-6Patriot
Late Rally From Men's Hoops Falls Short Versus Bucknell
January 18, 2023 | Men's Basketball
WEST POINT, NY – Army West Point (11-9, 5-2 PL) had an impressive second half comeback but ultimately fell in a game that went down to the wire, 68-66 against Bucknell (8-12, 1-6 PL) on Wednesday night at Christl Arena.
Bucknell's Jack Forrest erupted for a game high 25 points on 9-15 shooting, including 5-7 from three-point range. As a team the Bison shot 8-17 (47.1%) from three-point range. Bucknell jumped out to an early 17-6 lead by the 13:10 mark as Forrest scored a quick 10 points, including a three-point make.
Army responded by going on a 9-2 run to close the margin to four, 19-15 as freshman Coleton Benson splashed a three-pointer at the 9:43 mark. Jared Cross enjoyed a season high 13 points shooting 3-4 on three-pointers, connecting on his first three-point make at the 7:55 mark in the first half to cut the Bucknell lead to one, 21-20.
However, the Bison went right back to work by going on a 9-0 run to push the lead back to 10, 30-20 as Forrest would make another three-pointer and a layup. Army would go into the half trailing, 35-27.
Bucknell would control much of the second half, extending its lead to 17 at one point, 50-33 by the 13:38 mark, following an Elvin Edmonds made three.
Facing an uphill battle, Army made it a 53-41 game following a pair of buckets from Jalen Rucker. Bucknell continued to respond to every Army basket down the stretch, seeing a 66-56 lead with 2:11 to play.
Army's late surge was ignited by a steal and layup from Cross to make it an eight-point game. The Black Knights were able to string together multiple stops, as Ethan Roberts took over the game in the final 90 seconds.
Roberts fought through contact for an and-one basket to cut the lead to five after converting the free throw, before achieving the same feat on Army's ensuing possession to make it a 66-64 Bucknell lead with 58 seconds to play.
The Black Knights were able to get a stop, as Roberts drove again for the game-tying basket to cap an individual 8-0 run to tie the score with 17 seconds remaining.
With one possession remaining for a game-winner, Bucknell's Andre Screen was fouled with 2.7 seconds left. Screen sank each of the clutch free throws, as Army was unable to get off a final shot after having to take it the length of the floor.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Freshman Ethan Roberts led Army with 17 points, draining seven of ten looks from the field.
- Junior Jalen Rucker added 13 points, extending his double-digit points streak to 35 games dating back to last season.
- Junior Jared Cross recorded a career-high 13 points and five steals. Cross was 3-4 from three-point land while adding four rebounds and two assists.
- Junior Charlie Peterson registered 12 points (6-9 FG) and nine rebounds.
Up Next
Army will host Navy on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
