Jan. 15, 2011

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EASTON, Pa. - With the game tied at 66 and 54 seconds left on the clock, Rob Delaney drove the lane and found a wide-open Tony Johnson in the corner. Johnson stepped up and knocked down the three to give Lafayette the lead for the final time in a 76-73 win over Navy on Saturday at Kirby Sports Center.

In a game that featured 10 lead changes and seven ties, Jared Mintz led the Leopards with 20 points while Jim Mower and Johnson added 13 and 11 respectively. After Johnson's crucial three-pointer, the Leopards made 7-of-8 from the line to close out the victory. For the game, Lafayette made 22-of-26 (85%) from the line, including a 10-for-10 afternoon for Mintz.

Lafayette (7-11, 2-1) took an early lead in the first half before Navy tied the game at 26-26 with 5:32 remaining. The Leopards ended the half on a 10-0 run to take a 36-26 lead. Nick Petkovich had five of the Leopards' 10 points in the swing.

In the second stanza, Navy (5-14, 0-3) pulled within three (40-37) at 15:29 on an O.J. Avworo layup. Johnson, who finished with three steals, manufactured a steal and fast-break bucket at 14:01 for a 42-37 Lafayette lead.

The Mids tied the game (46-46) for the first time in a 15-minute span when Isaiah Roberts drew a foul on a layup and made the free throw for the three-point play at 10:11. Roberts finished with 13 points.

The final nine minutes of the game featured four ties and four lead changes before Johnson's bucket turned the tide for the Leopards.

Navy had three players in double figures with Jordan Sugars scoring 15 and J.J. Avila adding 13 points and nine boards. Navy shot 60 percent (12-of-20) from the line and committed 18 turnovers to the Leopards' 12.

Lafayette hits the road on Wednesday as the Leopards take on Bucknell at 7 p.m.