Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Colgate
Men's Basketball Begins Quest for Patriot League Championship at Colgate
March 05, 2025 | Men's Basketball
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army West Point men's basketball (16-14, 10-8) kicks off their 2025 Patriot League Championship campaign on Thursday as they head to Hamilton, New York to take on the Colgate Raiders (13-18, 10-8).
This will be the third time that the two teams have faced off this season, and the second time the Black Knights will make the trip to Cotterell Court this season. Army and Colgate split the regular season series, with both teams winning their respective home games.
The Thursday night matchup against Colgate is slated for a 7 p.m. start and will stream on ESPN+ and the Varsity Sports Network.
ARMY STORYLINES:
LAST GAME: Army saw a third straight loss on Saturday, falling to Lehigh, 67-89. The Black Knights' shooting struggles continued in the final game of the regular season, with Army only shooting 36 percent from the floor and 13.6 percent from the three-point line. They were also outrebounded, 46-24. Jalen Rucker led Army on Senior Day with 22 points, five rebounds and three steals. AJ Allenspach added 15 points while shooting 50 percent from the floor, tying Rucker with a team-high five rebounds in the game.
CAUSING A RUCKUS: Senior guard Jalen Rucker was named to the Patriot League All-League First Team this season after averaging 17.7 points a game, 3.1 assists per game and 1.3 steals a game this season. This is Jalen Rucker's third All-League selection and second All-League First Team selection of his career. Rucker is also the first player since Mark Lueking (1993-96), to earn Patriot League All-League First Team honors twice in their career.
SPECTACULAR SCOVENS: Sophomore forward was named to the Patriot League All-League Second Team after finishing the season averaging 16.0 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks a game. This is the first All-League honor he's earned in his career at West Point, added on top of being named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year and to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team last season.
CHEF (RYAN) CURRY: Sophomore guard Ryan Curry has also had a strong season for the Black Knights. Curry finished the season averaging 12.5 points a game, the 13th most a game in the league. He also averages a team-high 3.6 assists a game, good for being fifth in the league in that category. Earlier this season, he scored a career-high 30 points in a double overtime thriller against current No. 1 seed Bucknell.
PACKING THE PAINT: Senior forward AJ Allenspach has also made a statement in his senior season and his first as a starter for the Black Knights. Allenspach finished the season averaging 11.0 points a game and a team-high 7.2 rebounds, also fifth in the league. He also averages a league-high 69.9 percent shooting percentage from the floor.
IN THE RECORD BOOKS: The Black Knights finished the season 10-8 in league play, which is now tied for the most Patriot League play wins in program history. The program has had three other seasons not including this season where the team has earned 10 wins in Patriot League play (2013-14, 2019-20, 2022-23).
AMONG THE BEST: Jalen Rucker currently sits at 1,803 points in his career, which is the sixth most career points scored by a player in Army's program history. Rucker reached the sixth place spot on January 15 in a home win against Lafayette, where Rucker finished with a 29-point performance.
A CHANCE AT HISTORY: AJ Allenspach also has a chance to break the Army program records for career field goal shooting percentage and season field goal shooting percentage. The current record is held by Kevin Ferguson who shot 62.7 over his career and 64.3 in a single season. Allenspach currently averages 63.2 percent over his career and 69.9 percent over this season.
FAST START: The Black Knights are 14-1 when they take a lead into the locker room. Their only loss when having a lead was at Navy, when they held a 28-26 lead at the half.
History with Colgate
- Colgate leads the series, 75-65
- Current Streak: Army, 1 win
- Last Army win: Jan. 29, 2025, 84-72
- Last Colgate win: Jan. 22, 2025, 71–59
- Last Five Meetings: Colgate leads, 4-1
- Jan. 29, 2025 (West Point): ARMY 84, COLGATE 72
- Jan. 2, 2025 (Hamilton): ARMY 59, COLGATE 71
- Jan. 31, 2024 (Hamilton): ARMY 55, COLGATE 74
- Jan. 17, 2024 (West Point): ARMY 56, COLGATE 64
- March 5, 2023 (Hamilton): ARMY 74, COLGATE 91
Scouting the Raiders
- Colgate finished the season 13-18 overall with a 10-8 record in league play. The Raiders fell to the American Eagles in their last home game of the season on Saturday.
- The reigning Patriot League champions hope to make the tournament fifth straight season.
- Jeff Woodward was named to the Patriot League All-League Second Team. He ranks sixth in the league in points per game (16.1), fourth in rebounding (8.1), and second in field goal percentage (.650).
- Jalen Cox was named to the All-League Third Team and All-Defense Team. Cox averaged 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. He also ranks fifth in the Patriot League in assists per game, fifth in steals, eighth in assist-turnover ratio (1.4), and ninth in field goal percentage (.540).
