Rucker Explodes for 35, Leads Men's Basketball to 3-0 Start in Conference Play

Thursday, January 5

Baltimore, MD

7:00 PM

Army West Point

9-7,3-0Patriot

Loyola University Maryland

5-11,0-3Patriot

Army West Point

Loyola Maryland

Rucker Explodes for 35, Leads Men's Basketball to 3-0 Start in Conference Play

January 05, 2023 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Baltimore, MD – Jalen Rucker exploded for a career high 35 points on 12-16 shooting, including hitting on 6-9 from three-point range to lead Army West Point (9-7. 3-0) to a third consecutive Patriot League victory over Loyola Maryland (5-11, 0-3).

Rucker, who was playing in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland did most of his damage in the second half where he scored 26 of his 35 to ignite Army to a dominating 23-point win, in a game that was close for all of the first half and a majority of the second half.

Army got started quick racing out to an early, 26-14 lead behind a quick seven points for Rucker and six for Charlie Peterson. Army took a 35-22 lead into halftime.

The Greyhounds responded by going on a 13-0 out of the gates in the second half to tie the game at 35 apiece at the 14:50 mark following a pair of Kenneth Jones free throw makes.

Army responded a few possessions later with a Rucker layup to give the Black Knights a seven-point lead, 42-35 at the 12:17 mark. From then on out it became the Jalen Rucker show. Rucker scored 26 of Army's final 36 points, including five three-pointers to take over the game.

Rucker had two separate stretches where he scored eight straight points for Army as they pulled away.

Charlie Peterson was also in double figures with 14 points.

The Greyhounds finished 0-9 from long range. Kenneth Jones (16) and Chris Kuzemka were in double figures for Loyola.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Jalen Rucker has heated up to start the new year. In the first two contests of 2023 (Lafayette and Loyola), he has scored 56 points, knocking down 10-14 (.714%) from three-point.
Rucker's 35 points is the third highest scoring game by a Black Knight since the 2010-11 season, Ella Ellis (37, 2012) and Kyle Wilson (36, 2015).
Rucker now stands at 993 career points, needing just seven points to hit 1,000 in his West Point career. Since the 2010-11 season, nine players have hit the 1,000-point mark. 36 Army players have reached the 1000-point club.
Rucker is currently second in the Patriot League averaging 15.7 points per game, only behind Gerrale Gates (Holy Cross), 17.6 points.
Army has begun Patriot League play 3-0. A win on Monday vs. Colgate would give Army its first 4-0 start in conference play since the 2013-14 season.

Coaches Corner
"Jalen is really starting to see those opportunities to shoot the basketball and get some good looks and he certainly made some tough shots tonight to get some rhythm." – Head Coach Jimmy Allen

Up Next
Army will be back home on Monday, Jan. 9 at 7:00pm taking on the Colgate Raiders (9-7, 3-0).