The Army Black Knights (7-12, 1-5 Patriot League) travel to face the Bucknell Bison (6-13, 3-3 Patriot League) at Sojka Pavilion on January 21, 2026. Despite both teams struggling with losing records, this matchup features intriguing statistical contrasts that could determine the outcome.
Current Situation
Bucknell sits tied for fifth place in the Patriot League with a 3-3 conference record, while Army remains at the bottom of the standings at 1-5 in league play. The Bison are coming off a 95-76 loss at Colgate that snapped their two-game winning streak. However, Bucknell has been dominant at home, winning 14 consecutive home conference games and posting a perfect 3-0 record in Patriot League home games this season.
Historical Analysis
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| All-Time Series | Bucknell leads 64-25 |
| Bucknell Home Record vs Army | 37-6 |
| Series History Since | 1929 |
| Last Season | Split (home team won both) |
The historical dominance of Bucknell at home against Army is overwhelming. In nearly a century of competition, the Bison have won 37 of 43 games at home against the Black Knights.
Team Statistics Comparison
| Statistic | Army | Bucknell |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 75.2 | 65.2 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 37.1 | 31.4 |
| 3-Pointers Made Per Game | 10.9 | - |
| Free Throw Percentage | - | 76.2% |
| Offensive Rebounds Per Game | 11.9 (League Leader) | - |
Army leads the Patriot League in both made three-pointers (208 total) and offensive rebounds (11.9 per game). The Black Knights average 10 more points per game than Bucknell, suggesting a high-scoring offensive capability.
Key Players
Army Black Knights
| Player | PPG | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Curry | 15.0 | Junior Guard, 5.2 assists/game |
| Jackson Furman | 11.1 | Scorer |
| Jaxson Bell | 10.9 | Scorer |
| Jacen Holloway | 10.5 | Scorer |
Bucknell Bison
| Player | PPG | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Curtin | 16.0 | League-leading 2.2 steals/game |
| Amon Dörries | 15.0 (last 5 games) | 51.8% FG, 45.5% 3PT |
Betting Analysis
| Line | Value | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Bucknell -6.5 | Home favorite |
| Total | 145.5 | Moderate scoring expected |
| Army ATS Recent | 3-5 (last 5 road games) | Covering as underdog |
| Bucknell ATS Recent | 3-17 (last 20 games) | Struggling to cover |
Notably, Bucknell has failed to cover the spread in 15 of their last 20 games and 7 of their last 10. Meanwhile, Army has covered as a road underdog in 3 of their last 5 away games.
Prediction Factors
CAUSE: Bucknell's 14-game home conference winning streak combined with a 37-6 all-time home record against Army creates significant home-court advantage.
EFFECT: Despite Army's superior scoring average and three-point shooting, historical patterns show the Black Knights have won only 14% of games at Sojka Pavilion against the Bison.
PROJECTION: Given the overwhelming historical home advantage, Bucknell's 14-game home conference streak, and the fact that both teams split the season series last year with the home team winning each game, the Bison are likely to prevail.
Prediction
Direction: Bearish on Army Probability: 72% Horizon: 1 day (January 21, 2026) Answer: No - Bucknell will likely win
While Army's league-leading three-point shooting and scoring could keep the game competitive, Bucknell's historical home dominance (37-6 vs Army) and current 14-game home conference winning streak are too significant to ignore. The Bison's freshman stars Patrick Curtin and Amon Dörries have been performing well, and home-court advantage in college basketball often determines outcomes in evenly-matched games. Expect Bucknell to win at home, though Army's three-point shooting could keep the margin close.