ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Ryan Willen scored 10 points in the final 3:02 to help Lafayette grind out a 65-63 win over Navy in the Patriot League opener on Saturday night.

Willen helped make up for a lethargic team shooting night (40 percent from the field), finishing with a game-high 21 points, including 16 in the second half. Jim Mower and Rob Delaney joined him in double figures with 13 and 10, respectively. Mower and Delaney added five rebounds apiece with Delaney also distributing five assists. Lafayette (6-10, 1-0) outrebounded Navy 33-31 and had a season-low nine turnovers.

The game was close throughout, with eight ties and nine lead changes, and the Leopards trailed for the majority of it. Seth Hinrichs tied the game for the seventh time with 4:16 left after a pair of free throws. Jordan Sugars answered with four straight, but Nick Petkovich evened the score for the final time at 57-57 with 2:30 remaining, part of a 7-0 Lafayette spurt.

Willen further asserted himself, missing an initial attempt in the lane before corralling a rebound, making the putback and setting himself up for the and-one. He converted the foul shot and Lafayette led 57-55 with 3:02. Sugars responded with a pair of free throws on the next possession and ended the night with 20 points.

Willen had the answer again, using an up-and-under bucket to lead 62-59 with 1:13 left. With 37 seconds remaining, Navy's Jordan Brickman knifed through the defense and laid in a bucket to trim the margin to 62-61.

The Mids (3-12, 0-1) set out to foul Willen and did. The senior made one freebie and Navy called its final timeout of the game before his second attempt. The follow-up free throw missed and Lafayette led 63-61 with 18 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession, J.J. Avila (15 points) fired up a three-pointer which missed long and Petkovich ripped down his fifth rebound of the game. After going down to the floor, Petkovich called a timeout.

After a Lafayette timeout and an inbound pass, Willen was able to put away the game with two more free throws with three ticks left on the scoreboard, leading 65-61. Avila added a bucket at the buzzer.

The Leopards shot 32 percent from three, and garnered 16 points at the line in a 76 percent effort. Navy made 20-of-22 (91%) at the line, but was 5-of-18 from three.

Lafayette continues its mini tour of the service academies, hosting Army on Wednesday at 7 p.m.