NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport laboured to their seventh straight win tonight, grinding out a tough 77-70 victory at home versus Methodist University (3-12, 0-3). The Captains improved to 11-3 overall, 3-0 in the USA South after being forced to battle through a tough night shooting and erase a late nine-point deficit. Senior Conley Taylor scored 27, including 17 from the free-throw line and Luc Atangana just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Neither team could get much going offensively early in the first half, as both shot less than 40% in the opening frame. It was the Captains persistence and aggressive rebounding that led to an eight-point halftime lead. CNU more than doubled-up the Methodist rebounding in the first half, grabbing 33 boards to the Monarchs 16. The Captains performance on the glass included 18 offensive rebounds and 12 second chance points.

Sophomore Tra Benefield led the way in the first half, with eight rebounds, while rookie point guard Mike Cherry also grabbed seven. Three players finished the first half with seven points as CNU built a 37-29 lead at the break.

Methodist actually shot for a higher percentage in the first half, knocking down 37.9% (11-29) while CNU managed just 31% (13-42), the the Captains had 13 more attempts to account for the lead.

CNU continued to struggle early in the second half, as Methodist opened on a big run. The Monarchs raced out of the locker room on a 19-2 run to turn the eight point deficit into a nine-point lead with 11:30 remaining on the clock. Senior Mark Jernigan led the way in the surge, scoring nine points.

Junior point guard Paul Meredith ended the run with a steal in the open court and a trip to the free-throw line after being fouled. He knocked down both free-throws to get CNU back in the right direction and set the stage for the Captains comeback.

The Captains took a cue from Meredith and attacked the rim on the next six possessions either knocking down a layup or getting to the free-throw line on five of them. Taylor punctuated the run with an acrobatic three-point play to tie things up at 53. His layup was blocked and he was fouled, but Taylor powered through the contact and looped the ball up and in and hit the ensuing free-throw for the tie.

Methodist answered right back and held the lead for the next five minutes of action though, before Cherry stepped up in a huge spot.  The Captains, collectively shooting just 2-of-19 from three-point land in the game, looked to Cherry on the left wing where he knocked down the long trey to pull CNU back within one, 63-62, with 2:39 remaining. On the next possession, Taylor went to the line and sank two more free-throws for the lead.

CNU would hold on the rest of the way, going 11-for-11 from the charity stripe in the final two minutes of the game to hang on for the 77-70 victory. The Captains knocked down 84.8% of their shots from the free-throw line, led by a dominant performance from Taylor, with 17-of-18 made.

Taylor led all scorers with 27 points, including 17 from the free-throw line. Atangana and Benefield each just missed double-doubles with 10 points, nine rebounds and eight points, 10 rebounds respectively. Meredith's season-high of 11 points came on 3-of-6 shooting and he also grabbed four rebounds, had three assists and three steals to lead the way for CNU.

Jernigan had 21 points and five rebounds for the Monarchs, and Bryan Hockaday added a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Combs also finished in double figures with 11 points, while also collecting five steals.

The Captains stay at home for their next game, as they host Ferrum College this Saturday, January 14 at 4:00 pm. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com.