Navy Midshipmen Upset Bid Falls Short Against Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Navy Midshipmen fall to Wake Forest Demon Deacons 71-62 in NIT first round matchup

Mar. 17, 2026 at 8:58pm

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The Navy Midshipmen (26-7) put up a strong fight but ultimately fell to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (17-16) by a score of 71-62 in the first round of the NIT. Navy entered the game as 12-point underdogs but were led by a standout performance from Aidan Kehoe, who scored 26 points on 73.3% shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds. However, the Demon Deacons were able to pull away late, led by a 22-point effort from Juke Harris.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the competitive spirit of the Navy Midshipmen, who nearly pulled off the upset as heavy underdogs on the road. While they ultimately came up short, their strong performance against a Power 5 opponent in the NIT shows the program's continued growth and competitiveness at the Division I level.

The details

The Navy Midshipmen kept the game close throughout, trailing by just one point at halftime. Aidan Kehoe was dominant for Navy, but the Demon Deacons were able to pull away in the second half behind Juke Harris' 22 points. Wake Forest shot 44.0% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range, while Navy struggled from beyond the arc, making just 2-of-13 attempts.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at the LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
  • Navy's last game was a 73-72 loss to Boston on an unspecified date prior to this matchup.

The players

Aidan Kehoe

A standout player for the Navy Midshipmen, Kehoe scored 26 points on 73.3% shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds in the losing effort.

Juke Harris

The leading scorer for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Harris poured in 22 points to help his team advance in the NIT.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

While Navy's upset bid ultimately fell short, their strong performance against a Power 5 opponent in the NIT shows the continued growth and competitiveness of the program. The Midshipmen proved they can hang with top-tier teams and will look to build on this experience in future seasons.