NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- Christopher Newport ended the regular season on Saturday with a dominant performance, beating Marymount at the Freeman Center, 89-59. The fifth-ranked Captains became just the second team in the 26-year history of the Capital Athletic Conference to conclude a season undefeated in league play, and CNU will host CAC Tournament play as the top seed.

Sophomore Marcus Carter led the way with 23 points as five Captains reached double digits. CNU, 24-1 and 18-0 in conference play, has won 15 straight games heading into the post-season.

"That's the way we wanted to finish the season," Head Coach John Krikorian said. "I had a feeling this week that we were heading toward something special, and we really played at a high level."

Carter, the Capital's Player of the Week this week for the second time this season, made nine of ten shots for the day, pulled down seven rebounds, and recorded three assists.

CNU never trailed in the 30-point win, and led by as many as 36 in the second half. All three seniors on the squad started on Senior Day, and all three reached the scoring column. Ben Watkins opened the game with the first four points and finished with six. Connor Laframboise knocked down a three-pointer in the second half accounting for his points, and Hunter Wetherell, who has started all 25 games this season, reached double figures with ten.

Junior Tim Daly added 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while sophomore Aaron McFarland posted 11 points and junior Kevin Regimbal recorded ten points as the Captains improved their record at home this season to 12-1 in front of 1,447 fans at the Freeman Center.

The Captains led at the half, 46-24, and went on a 21-11 run to open the second half. CNU shot 67 percent from the floor in the opening half, and finished the day 33 of 57 (.579). Christopher Newport out-rebounded the Saints, 39-24, as Marymount concluded the season with an overall record of 10-15 and 7-11 in the CAC.

"We got things rolling and really showed what we're capable of," Krikorian continued. "I wish we could get back out there and keep playing, but now we've got a five-day break. We'll be focusing on Thursday night, all the records don't matter now. It's win or go home time, and we want to keep playing for a while." 

The Captains have prided themselves on their defense all season, and Saturday was no different. CNU held Marymount to 38 percent shooting (19 of 50) and by holding the Saints to just 59 points, it marked the 12th time this year a CNU opponent has scored 60 or less. 

CNU is the only CAC team to finish the regular season unbeaten in conference play other than Catholic, a former member who went 14-0 in the 1997-1998 season. This is the third season in the CAC for the Captains, and the first regular-season title after finishing second in 2013-2014 and tied for third last year in 2014-2015. CNU has advanced to the tournament's championship game in each of the last two seasons, losing on the road at Mary Washington and at Salisbury in those two title games.

This marks the fourth time the Captains have posted an undefeated record in conference play. CNU went 10-0 in 1990-1991 and 12-0 in 1997-1998 in the Dixie Conference under Head Coach C.J. Woollum. Krikorian's 2011-2012 CNU team went 12-0 in the USA South.

Christopher Newport will have a bye as the league tournament begins Tuesday with quarter-final action. Thursday night at the Freeman Center, the Captains will host a semi-final matchup with the winner of Tuesday night's Southern Virginia at St. Mary's game. St. Mary's is the fourth seed while Southern Virginia is fifth-seeded heading into the six-team tournament. Game time Thursday night is set for 8:00 p.m. at the Freeman Center.

On the other side of the bracket, Salisbury is the second-seeded team and will have a bye on Tuesday. The Sea Gulls will play on Thursday night against the winner of Tuesday's quarterfinal between third-seeded Mary Washington and sixth-seeded Wesley.

Tickets for Thursday night's game will go on sale Monday at 9:00 a.m. at the Freeman Center Ticket Office. CNU season ticket holders will have their seats on hold until Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., when they will be released to the general public.

Thursday night's semi-final will be a part of a women's and men's doubleheader. The CNU women, who lost on Saturday to Marymount to finish 22-3, will play at 6:00 p.m. followed by the men's game at 8:00 p.m. The teams have a combined mark of 46-4 heading into the CAC Tournament.