NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport is heading to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season, as the 11th-ranked Captains captured the Capital Athletic Conference crown Saturday at the Freeman Center. Senior Marcus Carter led the way with a career-high 31-point performance as CNU recorded a 78-56 victory over York (Pa.) in the CAC's Championship game.

"It was a great day for us," coach John Krikorian said as his team celebrated following the victory. "I couldn't be more proud of this team, and the way we've played. I could tell early on we were focused and we never let up today."

Junior Cutch Ellis (14 points) and sophomore Jason Aigner (11 points) also reached double figures for the Captains, who are now 25-3 overall and have won nine straight games heading into NCAA action CNU also improved its home record to 16-0 this season at the Freeman Center The Captains, who lost to York in the CAC title game a year ago at the Freeman Center, went up by as many as nine points in the first half, 29-20, before holding a 32-24 lead at the intermission. The Spartans, now 21-7, opened the second half with a 9-2 run to tie the game at 34-34, prompting a CNU timeout.

"I told them that we had given them the last seven points," Krikorian continued. "We had turned it over a couple of times and had a few breakdowns. I said let's just get back to playing the way we were." CNU responded by going on a 19-3 run and surging to a 53-37 lead. The Spartans never got closer than 13 the rest of the game. 

Carter, a first team all-conference selection this season and former CAC Player of the Year and D3hoops.com All-American, scored 14 points in the opening half and added 17 more in the second half to propel the Captains to the NCAA's for the 23rd time in the program's 52nd season. Carter went over the 1,700-point mark for his career, and is now just 13 behind Antoine Sinclair for sixth place on CNU's all-time scoring list with 1,723 career points.

"I was really motivated, that's for sure," Carter said. "This is very emotional, but we're a band of brothers and there's a bond we have. It was tough last year being injured and not being able to play or be a part of the championship game, so today was extra special." 

Senior point guard Tyler Femi recorded a career-high 13 rebounds for CNU, and also posted five points, three assists, and two steals.

"This was truly a team effort today," Femi said. "It was a great crowd and atmosphere for the championship game. We're looking forward to the NCAA Tournament, we'd love to play at home again, but we're ready to go anywhere we have to to play."

CNU's defense held York, a 44 percent shooting team for the season, to just 34 percent for the day (20 of 59). The Spartans made just seven of 34 three-point shots (21 percent) and the Captains out-rebounded the Spartans, 47-33. York had four players in double digits, led by junior Darin Gordon's 14 points. CAC player of the Year Jason Bady registered a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, but played just 28 minutes due to foul trouble and fouled out of the game with 2:43 to play and the Captains comfortably ahead.

The title game marked the sixth straight for the Captains since joining the Capital Athletic Conference, and the third victory for CNU.  The Captains will learn where and whom they'll be playing on Monday when the NCAA releases the 2019 Division III Men's Basketball Championship bracket.