Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
10-13,4-6Patriot
Holy Cross
8-15,3-7Patriot
Ryan Curry Powers Black Knights to Win over Holy Cross
January 31, 2026 | Men's Basketball
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army West Point men's basketball (10-13, 4-6) survived a barnburner inside Christl Arena on Wednesday afternoon, bringing down the Holy Cross Crusaders (8-15, 3-7), 69-68.
With the win, the Black Knights split the regular season series against the Crusaders and avenged their 75-82 loss inside the Hart Center on Jan. 14. Army has also won three of the last four against Holy Cross.
Ryan Curry led the Black Knights in his best game of the 2025-26 season, leading all scorers with a season-high 27 points while shooting 9-for-17 from the field and 7-for-12 from three-point range, adding five rebounds and four assists.
Jorn Everson was the second out of the Black Knights to finish in double figures, adding 11 points and knocking down three three-pointers while contributing four rebounds and a block.
Joshua Eli neared a double-double, finishing with nine points plus a career-best and game-high 12 rebounds in 27 minutes.
How It Happened
Army absorbed an early punch from Holy Cross but quickly settled in behind its perimeter shooting and defensive pressure.
After falling behind 4–0 in the opening minute, the Black Knights responded as Ryan Curry drilled a three-pointer at the 18:36 mark to cut the deficit to 4–3, then followed it with another triple moments later to give Army a 6–4 lead. Curry struck again midway through the opening stretch, knocking down his third three of the half to push Army in front 9–8.
Holy Cross answered with outside shooting to regain momentum, briefly building an 11–9 advantage, but Army continued to counter. Alex Engro finished a layup off a Dylan Benner assist to tie the game at 11–11, and Jaxson Bell later sparked another response, burying a three-pointer to even the score at 14–14 before converting back-to-back layups that gave Army an 18–14 lead.
The Crusaders responded with a 6–0 run to move back in front 20–18, but Army answered immediately out of a timeout. Curry knocked down another three at the 10:23 mark to reclaim a 21–20 edge, and moments later, Jackson Furman connected from deep to extend the lead to 24–20. Holy Cross closed the gap with interior scoring, trimming the margin to 24–22, but Army continued to trade blows.
Jorn Everson's three-pointer at the 4:01 mark pushed Army ahead 31–29, and the Black Knights remained composed late in the half despite missed free throws and several lead changes. Army closed the final minutes by converting at the line and forcing turnovers, finishing the opening 20 minutes locked in a 33–33 tie as both teams headed to the locker room deadlocked.
Army opened the second half locked in a 33–33 tie, but was immediately tested as Holy Cross scored first on a putback dunk to take a 35–33 lead. The Black Knights weathered early adversity, responding with Jorn Everson's three-pointer at the 18:08 mark to pull within 37–36, and moments later.
Ryan Curry drilled a three-pointer off a Joshua Eli assist to give Army its first second-half lead at 39–37. Jackson Furman followed with another triple to extend the margin to 42–37, capping a 9–2 Army run.
Holy Cross briefly halted the momentum, trimming the deficit to 42–40, but Army stayed aggressive from deep. Kevin McCarthy knocked down a three to push the lead to 45–40, and after a defensive stop, Jaxson Bell finished inside to make it 47–42. Curry then attacked in transition, converting a layup to stretch the advantage to 49–42 midway through the half.
The Crusaders continued to respond, knocking down back-to-back threes to close within 52–50, but Army countered once again. Eli stepped out and buried a three to restore a 52–47 cushion, and moments later, Everson connected from the wing to make it 55–52. After a Holy Cross basket cut it to 55–54, Eli powered home a dunk and converted the free throw, giving Army a 58–54 lead with under nine minutes remaining.
Curry added another three at the 8:11 mark to extend the margin to 61–54, but Holy Cross answered with a flurry of baskets to knot the game at 61–61. The teams traded punches down the stretch, with Eli's dunk tying the score again at 63–63 before Holy Cross briefly surged ahead 66–63 on a late three.
Army refused to fold. Curry calmly buried a clutch three and was fouled at the 2:42 mark to tie the game at 66–66, then followed with a free throw to complete the four-point play to give the Black Knights a 67–66 edge.
After Holy Cross reclaimed a one-point lead at the line, Curry delivered the decisive blow, pulling up for a jumper with 15 seconds left to put Army back in front 69–68. The Black Knights secured the final defensive stop, sealing a gritty one-point victory at home.
Black Knight Bullet Points
- With the win, the Black Knights get their tenth win of the season and their fourth win in Patriot League play.
- Ryan Curry led all scorers with a season-high 27 points while shooting 9-for-17 from the field and 7-for-12 from three-point range, adding five rebounds and four assists.
- Jorn Everson finished with 11 points and knocked down three three-pointers while contributing four rebounds and a block.
- Joshua Eli provided a strong interior presence off the bench with nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds in 27 minutes.
- Jaxson Bell added nine points, nine rebounds, and three assists while drawing multiple defensive assignments in the paint.
- Jackson Furman chipped in six points and recorded two steals while spacing the floor from beyond the arc.
- The Black Knights won the rebounding battle 46–36, including a 17–10 edge on the offensive glass. Army scored 25 second-chance points, more than double Holy Cross' total of 11.
- The Black Knights totaled 22 bench points, compared to 16 from Holy Cross' reserves.
Up Next
The Black Knights head back on the road on Wednesday, heading upstate to Hamilton, N.Y., to play the Colgate University Raiders for the second time this season.
Army hopes to avenge its 69-76 loss inside Christl Arena against Colgate on Jan. 3. The last win against the Raiders came last season, with the Raiders winning 12 of the last thirteen matchups.
The game tips off inside Cotterell Court on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. ET, with the game also streaming live on ESPN+.
Follow Along
For complete coverage of Army West Point men's basketball, follow the Black Knights on X and Instagram at @ArmyWP_MBB and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com.
