Carter lifts Mids to key victory

Shorthanded Navy remains perfect in Patriot League play

The Navy men’s basketball team notched a critical victory on a day it was without two starters.

Junior swingman John Carter Jr. poured in 26 points on the strength of 8 of 11 field goal shooting as Navy defeated Loyola Maryland, 73-67, on Saturday at Reitz Arena. Junior wing guard Greg Summers scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Midshipmen, who led 34-24 at halftime then held off a late rally by the Greyhounds.

Navy, which improved to 14-2 overall and 6-0 in the Patriot League, scored 32 points of 24 Loyola turnovers. The Midshipmen played without starting point guard Cam Davis and starting power forward Richard Njoku, who were unavailable due to contact tracing related to an individual not involved with the Navy men’s basketball program.

Navy can clinch the top seed for the Patriot League tournament by beating Loyola again Sunday afternoon (4 p.m.) at Alumni Hall.

Sophomore Daniel Deaver started in place of Njoku and contributed seven points, three steals and two blocked shots. Freshman Austin Inge started in place of Davis and dished off four assists.

Sophomore forward Tyler Nelson had seven points and four rebounds for Navy, which got 35 points from its bench.

Sophomore forward Santi Aldama scored 27 points to lead Loyola (4-9, 1-4), which committed 10 turnovers in the opening 10 minutes in falling behind 20-8. Freshman forward Cam Spencer, a Davidsonville resident and Boys’ Latin graduate, made his season debut and totaled 10 points, three rebounds, two steals and two assists.

Isaiah Hart also tallied 10 for Loyola and Jaylin Andrews (Boys’ Latin) just missed a double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds while scoring nine for Loyola.