The atmosphere at Christl Arena in West Point, NY, was charged with anticipation on the morning of February 25, 2026, as the Army Black Knights hosted the Bucknell Bison in a Patriot League matchup broadcast live on ESPN+. Both teams entered the contest with identical conference records (5-11), but the overall narratives surrounding each program couldn’t have been more different. Army, sitting at 11-18, was eager to snap a three-game home losing streak, while Bucknell, mired in a five-game skid and sporting an 8-21 record, was desperate for a turnaround before the Patriot League Tournament.
Oddsmakers pegged Army as a 3.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 142.5 points. The predictive models gave the Black Knights a 61.8% chance of victory, and the spread model leaned toward Army covering with 53.3% confidence. But with both teams sporting shaky records against the spread—Army at 12-15 and Bucknell at 11-18—nothing was guaranteed. For fans and bettors alike, the only certainty was that this would be a battle of contrasting styles and a test of resilience for two programs seeking a late-season spark.
Bucknell’s season has been defined by adversity. The Bison entered West Point reeling from injuries and inconsistent execution. They’d lost nine of their last eleven Patriot League games, and their struggles were evident in the statistics: a -292 scoring differential, an average of just 66.7 points per game (ranking 345th nationally), and a glaring deficiency on the boards, being outrebounded by 4.3 per contest. Bucknell’s lack of size forced them to play small, often fielding four players 6-foot-4 or shorter, which contributed to their woes in rebounding and interior defense.
Offensively, Bucknell leaned heavily on the trio of Amon Dorries, Pat Curtin, and Achile Spadone. Dorries, the team’s leading scorer, averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Curtin chipped in 12 points per contest, while Spadone, thrust into a larger role due to Ruot Bijiek’s injury, contributed 11.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Despite their efforts, the Bison’s shooting woes persisted; they connected on just 30% from beyond the arc this season, one of the lowest marks in Division 1. Over the last five games, Bucknell had been launching an average of 25 three-point attempts per contest, hoping to offset their lack of inside presence with volume from distance.
Defensively, the Bison struggled mightily, allowing opponents to shoot 38% from three (tied for third highest in Division 1) and conceding 76.8 points per game. Their inability to defend the perimeter made them vulnerable against teams that thrive from deep—a glaring concern with Army’s three-point firepower looming.
Army, too, had endured a challenging campaign. The Black Knights’ -144 scoring differential reflected an offense that averaged 72.6 points per game while surrendering 77.5. Like Bucknell, Army lacked a dominant post presence and relied heavily on perimeter shooting. The Black Knights ranked 18th nationally with 10.7 made threes per game, and five players had attempted at least 100 triples this season. Their collective 33.4% accuracy from deep was modest, but the sheer volume kept them competitive in most matchups.
Ryan Curry emerged as the heart and soul of Army’s attack. The senior guard led the team with 13.8 points and 4.6 assists per game, boasting an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio above 2:1. Curry’s playmaking was complemented by Jaxson Bell and Jacen Holloway, each averaging 11 points per contest, while Jackson Furman and others provided additional scoring punch. Tate Laczkowski anchored the glass with 5.4 rebounds per game, and Bell led Army in steals at 1.0 per game.
The defensive side, however, remained Army’s Achilles’ heel. The Black Knights allowed opponents to shoot 35.2% from three and often struggled to protect the paint due to their lack of size. Their defensive efficiency ranked near the bottom of the Patriot League, conceding 100.6 points per 100 possessions. Yet, Army’s ability to force opponents into three-point shootouts played to their strengths, especially against teams like Bucknell that struggled to guard the perimeter.
Historically, these matchups have delivered fireworks. The previous meeting saw Army prevail in overtime, 87-84, with a staggering 160 points scored in regulation. Both teams found ways to get to the free-throw line, and despite subpar shooting, combined for 20 made threes. This precedent set the stage for another high-scoring affair, and analysts widely predicted both teams would break the 70-point barrier again.
In the lead-up to tip-off, betting trends offered some insight. Bucknell had hit the game total under in 11 of their last 15 away games and the team total under in 16 of their last 25. Army, meanwhile, had hit the team total under in eight of their last nine and the game total under in six of their last nine. Still, the first matchup’s offensive explosion and both teams’ defensive struggles suggested the over might be in play, with some experts recommending bets up to 144 points.
"Army is going to shoot a ton of 3-pointers in this matchup, and Bucknell has the 356th-ranked 3-point defense in the country. The Bison struggle guarding shooters and contesting shots, so I expect Army to have plenty of open looks in this matchup," one analyst noted in the pregame coverage. The sentiment was echoed across the board—if Army’s shooters found their rhythm, Bucknell could be in for a long afternoon.
For Bucknell, success hinged on Dorries, Curtin, and Spadone finding their range from deep and exploiting Army’s own defensive vulnerabilities. For Army, Curry’s facilitation and the collective shooting prowess of the Black Knights promised to keep the scoreboard operator busy. With both teams allowing over 76 points per game and neither defense able to consistently lock down the perimeter, the contest was primed for another offensive showcase.
As the teams took the court, fans and analysts alike braced for a game that would likely come down to the final possessions. With postseason seeding and pride on the line, every shot, rebound, and defensive stand carried extra weight. While the outcome remained undecided as of press time, one thing was certain: the Army-Bucknell rivalry had all the makings of a Patriot League classic, with both squads determined to end their regular season on a high note and build momentum for the battles ahead.