NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The Christopher Newport University men's basketball team played host to the 22nd ranked Ferrum Panthers Saturday afternoon in the Freeman Center and earned a key 80-67 USA South victory. Senior forward Mike Green(Norfolk, VA) registered his second straight double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds. The win improves the Captains to 9-5 overall (2-1 in the USA South) and drops Ferrum to 14-2 overall and is their first loss in the conference.
Ferrum started quickly and built an 11-point lead less than four minutes in to the game before CNU settled and went on an eight point run to bring the lead to a single possession. Each team traded baskets until Conley Taylor's (Newport News, VA) layup with 7:37 to play in the first half gave CNU their first lead of the game. The Captains' defense took control for the remainder of the first half as Ferrum missed 17 straight shots before a tip-in at the buzzer brought the Panthers to within five at the half, 37-32.
Both teams continued to play aggressive defense in the second half as CNU managed to never relinquish the lead. Despite five ties, CNU took the lead for good at the 10:00 mark off of a Jacob Capin (Gloucester, VA) three pointer from the corner. The lead grew quickly to double digits and Ferrum was not able to get any closer than five points the rest of the way.
Taylor and Green led all scorers with 24 points each while freshman, Tra Benefield (Richmond, VA) contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds. Ferrum had four players in double figures led by Newport News native Derek Mitchell's 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The win improves the Captains' record in the Freeman Center this season to 8-0 and comes only three days after dropping their first conference game to N.C. Wesleyan on the road Wednesday night. CNU returns to the Freeman Center on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. when they will host Averett University in USA South Conference action.