NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- For the seventh time in nine years under head coach John Krikorian and the fifth straight season, the Captains reached the 20-win plateau after capping off a perfect regular season at home with a 72-64 win over Frostburg State on Saturday. The 16th-ranked CNU men's basketball team improved to 20-3 overall and 10-2 in league play behind an impressive Senior Day performance from the three Captains playing in their final home regular season game. 

Seniors Marcus Carter, Tyler Femi, and Logan Miller were celebrated in a pre-game ceremony prior to tip against the Bobcats and the trio went on to capture their 99th career victory to tie a program record for the most wins in a four-year stretch. Miller hit the first shot of the game for CNU with a three-pointer and the fifth-year guard added a highlight-reel assist early in the second half. Femi registered his usual hard-nosed performance with 5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and just 1 turnover in 39 minutes of action running point for the Captains. Carter picked up a double-double and led CNU to the win with a late surge getting him to 15 points and 12 rebounds in the game. 

The Captains and Bobcats saw the game tied five times and the lead change hands on nine different occasions before a late run by CNU pushed the home team over the top. Frostburg State fell to 10-13 overall, 6-6 in CAC action with the loss while the Captains improved to 13-0 on their home floor this season. 

Neither team led by double figures in the contest with CNU taking a game-high 9-point lead early in the second half before the Bobcats answered to re-take the lead with less than seven minutes remaining. A quick 8-0 run courtesy of three-pointers from Jason Aigner and Marcus Carter sandwiching a strong take to the basket by Dalon McHugh got the Captains back to a three-possession lead, but the Bobcats answered again to pull within one with less than two minutes to play. With the score 65-64, Carter knocked down 5-of-6 free-throws and McHugh connected on a pivotal stick-back layup as the CNU defense held Frostburg empty on their final three trips down the floor. 

McHugh had a spectacular game off the bench for the Captains, scoring a season-high 15 points for the second time in the last three games on matching 6-of-8 shooting performances. He buried one three-pointer and went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line while also grabbing 5 rebounds in the game. 

The free-throw shooting was exceptional for the Captains, knocking down 21-of-24 attempts from the charity stripe led by a perfect 5-for-5 showing by junior Cutch Ellis. McHugh, Aigner, and Femi each were 2-for-2 at the line while Savonte Chappell (3-for-4) and Carter (7-for-9) rounded out the effort from the line. 

Frostburg State was led by Edwin Cole with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and a pair of blocks, while Daniel Alexander added 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

With the win, Christopher Newport clinched home court for the first round of the CAC Tournament, starting Tuesday, February 19. CNU will return to action on Wednesday, February 13 as they travel to Salisbury University for a 7:30 pm tip at the Maggs Center in Maryland. Following that game, Christopher Newport will close out the regular season at Penn State Harrisburg on Saturday, February 16.