Army Finishes FDU Thanksgiving Classic With Victory

HACKENSACK, N.J. — Army West Point men’s basketball (2-6) closed its appearance at the FDU Thanksgiving Classic with a win on Wednesday, defeating tournament host Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (1-6), 81-73.

With the win, the Black Knights now hold a 10-5 overall series record over the Knights, stretching their win streak to two straight wins in the series. Army also snaps a six-game losing streak, earning its first win over a Div. I team in the 2025-26 season.

Army endured an early punch when FDU opened the game with a three-pointer, but the Black Knights answered quickly. Ryan Curry buried a transition three to tie the score at 3–3.

Moments later, Jorn Everson finished through contact to give Army its first lead at 5–4 off a feed from Tate Laczkowski. Army’s energy forced an early FDU timeout, and the Knights kept building momentum when Kevin McCarthy knocked down a three, and Laczkowski converted a driving layup to extend the lead to 10–7.

Army continued to control tempo defensively, with Laczkowski grabbing multiple rebounds and the Knights forcing several FDU misses from deep. After a scoring lull on both sides, FDU strung together a small run to move ahead 15–12, but Jackson Furman steadied Army at the line and followed with a deep three from the right wing to tie the game again at 15–15. Another Curry triple pushed Army ahead 18–17 entering the middle stretch of the half.

Jacen Holloway added two free throws as Army’s pressure defense continued generating stops, highlighted by strong interior work from Jaxson Bell, who pulled down multiple boards and later assisted Curry for a deep wing three that pushed the margin to 23–19.
Everson then drilled another three off a skip pass from McCarthy, giving Army its largest lead to that point at 26–21.

Army’s defense remained active, with Bell blocking a layup, Eli controlling the glass, and the Knights forcing repeated FDU misses around the rim. The Black Knights pushed the lead to 29–21 when Bell stepped into a three after an offensive rebound by Everson, and Holloway extended the margin with a strong cut and finish to make it 31–22.

FDU chipped back to within six on late free throws, but Curry delivered another key basket, slashing through traffic for a layup that restored a 33–25 advantage entering the final minute.

Army’s defense forced turnovers on back-to-back FDU possessions before the Knights missed a three at the horn, sending Army into halftime with a 33–27 lead.

Army opened the second half protecting a 33–27 lead, but FDU quickly closed the gap with a pair of drives. After FDU trimmed it to 33–32, the Black Knights responded when Kevin McCarthy buried a right-wing three off a kick-out from Jacen Holloway to restore a four-point cushion.

Moments later, Army turned to its bench, bringing in Jackson Furman and Joshua Eli, who would soon become the anchor of the half. FDU briefly moved in front at 37–36 after a turnover and two free throws, but the Black Knights immediately shifted momentum.

Joshua Eli slipped behind the defense for a layup on a feed from Ryan Curry, then followed with another strong finish through traffic to put Army back ahead 40–37. After FDU answered with a three, Eli continued his emerging dominance, collecting rebounds on both ends and scoring again off a Curry assist to keep Army in rhythm as the pace quickened.

Army’s frontcourt became the story of the half. When FDU tied the game at 42–42, Eli again delivered, finishing at the rim for his fourth field goal in the span of three minutes. That sequence set the tone for the rest of the period, with the Black Knights’ front line dictating the interior battle.

With 15 minutes left, Jaxson Bell checked back into the game and immediately made an impact. Bell calmly knocked down a free throw, then helped stabilize Army defensively as the game tightened.

Minutes later, Bell splashed a corner three off a swing pass from Furman to bring Army within 51–48, then delivered again with a hard cut and finish that pulled Army to 55–54 during a back-and-forth stretch.

Army regained control when Holloway and Bell sparked a surge. Holloway powered through contact for a layup to make it 53–54, and moments later, Bell scored again in transition off an outlet from Furman. By the under-eight timeout, Eli reentered and picked up where he left off, hauling down rebounds, keeping possessions alive, and scoring another bucket inside to push Army ahead 57–54.

The decisive sequence came in the final four minutes. After FDU cut it to 63–62, Eli stepped out and drilled a clutch three from the top of the arc, assisted once more by Curry, giving Army a 66–62 lead.

On the next trip, Eli secured another defensive board and scored again at the rim to make it 68–62, completing a stretch where he scored seven straight Army points.

FDU kept firing threes, but the Army defense, led by Bell’s energy and Eli’s rebounding, held firm. Bell sank two more free throws at 3:53 and later added another pair at 1:11, each time protecting a narrow lead as FDU threatened. Holloway chipped in with steady scoring on drives, while Furman and Curry controlled tempo and delivered timely assists.

In the closing minute, Army sealed the win at the line. Curry converted four straight technical free throws with 18 seconds left to stretch the lead to 78–70, Eli added another, and Bell and McCarthy each hit late foul shots to close it out. Even as FDU hit a late three, the Black Knights calmly handled the ball, absorbed pressure, and finished an authoritative second half and took the 81-73 road win.