Army basketball update- 01/08/2013

The Black Knights fell to 7-7 overall after a 64-52 loss to Columbia (8-5). Army led 29-24 after the first half but the Lions went on a run early in the second half to hand the Black Knights their first home loss of the season.

Sophomore guard Steve Frankoski led the Columbia with 13 points, while hitting 2 of 3 from 3-point range.

Senior Ella Ellis and freshman Kyle Wilson led Army with 11 points each. Wilson was 3 of 3 from 3-point range. The Black Knights shot 57.1 percent from beyond the arc and freshman guard Kyle Toth added nine points from 3-point range. Toth also led the Black Knights with 6 rebounds but Columbia out-rebounded the Black Knights 40-30. Army takes a trip to face a young Dartmouth (2-10) squad for a final contest before conference games ramp up. Sophomore guard Gabas Maldunas tops the team averaging 10.7 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game. Freshman Alex Mitola is second on the team averaging 10.6 points per game for a Big Green team riding a seven game losing streak.

On Saturday the Black Knights will visit a Bucknell who currently sit on top of the Patriot League at 13-3. Forward Mike Muscala tops the Bison in both points per game (18.9) and rebounds per game (10.7). The senior has ten double doubles this season and is second all-time with 231 career blocks. The Bison are coming off of a tough loss at No. 12 Missouri that saw Muscala score 25 points with 14 rebounds.

The Black Knights will need to keep an eye on senior guard Bryson Johnson who has hit 34 of 79 from 3-point range this season and is second on the team averaging 11.7 points per game. Junior guard Cameron Ayers and senior forward Joe Willman are also averaging in the double digits in scoring for the Bison.