ROCKY MOUNT, NC - Christopher Newport's 18-game USA South Conference winning streak came to an end Wednesday night in wild fashion. CNU let a 16-point lead with five and a half minutes to play in the second half get away, and then lost to North Carolina Wesleyan in double overtime, 112-109.

The Captains, now 11-2 overall and 4-1 in the USA South, led at the half, 40-34, and went up by a score of 80-64 before the Bishops began storming back. N.C. Wesleyan senior Julian Martin banked home a three-poiner at the final buzzer to tie the game at 91.

After each team scored nine points in overtime, the Bishops out-scored the Captains, 12-9, in the second extra period to win by three, 112-109. CNU never led in the second overtime.

"That was an amazing college basketball game," CNU Head Coach John Krikorian said. "Our guys are really hurting right now, but this is the kind of game you learn a lot from. We will get better in the future because of this."

Senior Brandon Givens, in his first year with the Bishops, scored a remakable 50 points for North Carolina Wesleyan, setting a new school scoring mark. Givens had 12 in the first half, and then went 10 of 12 from the field in the second half to score 26 more points. He then added 12 more points in the overtimes. Givens hit five three-pointers in the game.

"It was a pleasure to coach in a game like this," said Krikorian. "We are a work in progress and we have a long way to go. I was not at all upset with our effort tonight; we played hard, they just happened to have the best player on the floor."

The Captains were led by sophomore center Nik Biberaj, who scored a new career-high with 26 points. Biberaj, battling the effects of the flu, made 9 of 18 shots and was 8 of 9 at the foul line.

Junior Tra Benefield posted a double-double, his sixth of the year, with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Mike Cherry scored 23 points for CNU.

North Carolina Wesleyan snapped a five-game losing streak with the come-from-behind triumph. The loss snapped a six-game CNU winning streak.

CNU is now tied with Ferrum atop the league standings with 4-1 records. The Captains, 11-2 overall, host LaGrange on Saturday at the Freeman Center. Game time is set for 4 p.m. The game will be the first of six straight home games for the Captains.