HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Senior Davidson Hubbard (Charlotte, NC) posted a double-double with game-highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while classmate and team captain Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC) had 15 points and a game-high six assists, to lead preseason No. 8 Hampden-Sydney College to a 74-53 season-opening home win past defending NCAA Division III National Champion and preseason No. 1 Christopher Newport University on Wednesday night in S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium at Kirby Field House. Senior Alex Elliott (Marietta, GA) added nine points and eight rebounds for the Tigers (1-0), who led 31-22 at halftime, and by as many as 24 points in the second half, against the visiting Captains (0-1), who were led by Collin Hines with 12 points.

"What a way to start the year," said fifth-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. "Big shout out to everyone who came out tonight. The students and fans were amazing! Very proud of our team's maturity. We made a lot of mistakes, but we stayed poised and stayed together when things didn't go our way. This was a fun win, but we won't dwell on it. We will watch the film and figure out how to learn from it. This is a long season. We are just getting started."

H-SC scored the first points of the contest witnessed by a near-capacity crowd of 976 with an early basket from senior team captain Josiah Hardy (Ashburn) at 18:50. CNU responded with five unanswered points to lead 5-2 at 17:24, before the Tigers used a quick 8-0 run to go ahead 10-5 with 10:58 on the first-half clock. Hardy (2), Hubbard (2) and Brazil (4) scored for the hosts, but the Captains answered back with a 9-3 run to take what would prove to be their final lead of the night at 14-13 with 8:36 left in the half. The two teams stayed close with H-SC leading 21-20 at 4:05 after two free throws by the visitors. The Tigers, however, closed the opening 20 minutes with a 10-2 run to lead 31-22 at the intermission—getting points from fifth-years Chase Turner (Virginia Beach) (1) and Ryan Clements (Conyers, GA) (2), Hubbard (2), Elliott (1) and Brazil (4)—the latter making a three-point field goal at the 1:00 mark toward his 11 first-half points.

H-SC took control of the contest with a 14-2 run to begin the second half for a 45-24 advantage at 15:54 following two free throws by Brazil. Clements and Elliott sparked the outburst with five points each, including a three-pointer each, as well, while Hardy scored inside for the hosts. The Tigers maintained the comfortable margin and took their largest lead of the contest at 63-39 with 7:36 remaining. Senior DJ Wright (Greensboro, GA) connected on two three-pointers during this stretch, and fifth-year team captain Miles Harris (Virginia Beach) also added a three-pointer. Hubbard then scored eight of nine points for the Garnet & Grey, including two slam dunks, for a 72-53 margin at 1:36. Freshman Alex Cannon (Loganville, GA) added the last points with a late layup to provide for the final 21-point margin of victory.

Hubbard led H-SC with his game-highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds for the 18th double-double of his career. Brazil finished with his 15 points and game-high six assists for the Tigers, adding six rebounds. Elliott contributed his nine points and eight rebounds, adding three assists. Clements, Hardy and Wright each had seven points, with Clements adding a game-high three steals and Hardy adding six rebounds. Harris finished with six points and a game-high three steals, while Turner had five points and three assists. H-SC shot 46% (27-59) from the field, including 43% (9-21) on three-pointers, and 61% (11-18) at the free throw line.

Collin Hines led CNU with his 12 points, adding four rebounds. The Captains' two returning All-Americans, Jahn Hines and Trey Barber, finished with six and two points, respectively, with Jahn Hines added four assists and Barber adding six rebounds. CNU shot 29% (19-65) from the field, including just 13% (3-24) on three-pointers, and 71% (12-17) at the line.

The Tigers avenged a 72-59 home setback to CNU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last March 4, and have now won two of the three games played between the two schools in the last 11 months, including an 85-70 road win last December 13, 2022 in Newport News.

H-SC will remain at home to welcome non-conference opponent Greensboro (NC) College on Sunday, November 12, at 4 p.m. in Fleet Gym.