Navy 76, Army 68

Feb 17, 2007, 03:50 pm

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- After failing to score in the first half, Greg Sprink scored a game-high 19 points to lift Navy to a 76-68 win against Army on Saturday.

Sprink's first points did not come until a free throw with 13:20 to play. His first basket of the game came with 5:35 to play, and his 3-pointer with a minute left the Midshipmen a 69-61 lead.

Sprink also made four free throws in the game's final minute to clinch the win for Navy. He made 11-of-14 free throws for the game.

The win moved Navy (14-13, 4-8 Patriot League) ahead of the Black Knights (13-14, 3-9) and into a fifth-place tie with Colgate. The Midshipmen are one game out of fourth place.

The Black Knights dropped their seventh straight.

It was the 106th meeting in basketball between the two schools. Navy now leads the series 66-40.

Trey Stanton scored 15 points for Navy. Kaleo Kina added 14 points and five assists.

Jerell Brown led Army with 18 points. Matt Bell and Doug Williams added 16 points each.

Navy led 29-26 at halftime, holding Army to 35 percent shooting from the floor.

Army tied the game at 35 with 15:20 to play on a basket by Brown, but Navy quickly took the lead back as Adam Teague scored the first six points of a 12-2 run that put Navy up 47-39 with 11:36 to play.

Army closed to within 63-58, but Stanton and Sprink hit 3-pointers to put Navy back up 69-61 with a minute to play.