DANVILLE, Va. -- The Captains of Christopher Newport (15-7, 7-2) used a second-half surge to get past Averett University (2-21, 0-10) in USA South action today, 77-63. Conley Taylor (Newport News, Va.) led all scorers with 22 points, while Brian Herrmann(Newport News, Va.) tied his season-high with 14 off the bench, knocking down three trey's.

The Cougars hung in with the Captains in the first half, behind solid three-point shooting and defense. Averett knocked down four three-pointers and forced nine first-half turnovers by the Captains, as CNU managed just a three-point lead at the break, 36-33. 

Taylor and senior Mike Green led the way in the first half for Christopher Newport, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively. Taylor hit a pair of three's and Green also grabbed five rebounds for the Captains.

It was early in the second half when CNU began to pull away, as Averett struggled on the offensive end. In five of the first six possessions, the Cougars turned the ball over to CNU, while Herrmann and the Captains perimeter game took over for CNU offensively. Herrmann hit back-to-back three-pointers to put CNU back up by four, 45-41, followed by a long-range jumper fromJacob Capin with 12:31 remaining in the second half. Capin's trey gave CNU it's largest lead of the game so far, at 52-41. 

CNU continued to pour on, as Green and Taylor were the focal point. Taylor scored on a fancy reverse scoop after a steal; then stole the ball on the next possession for another tough basket on the fast break, while getting fouled. His personal 5-0 run was followed by a Paul Meredith three as the shot clock expired and a pair of Herrmann free-throws as CNU opened up the biggest lead of the game, at 19 points, 71-52, with 5:19 remaining.

The Captains closed out the win, finishing off the Cougars, 77-63, to improve to 7-2 in USA South action. Elsewhere in the USA South, first-place Ferrum College defeated Shenandoah and improved to 9-1 in league play, setting up an integral USA South battle on Sunday afternoon. The Captains face the Panthers at 4:00 pm, with league tournament seeding at stake.