ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. -Christopher Newport connected for seven three-pointers in the second half Wednesday night, and managed to hold off upset-minded St. Mary's, 79-76. The victory at O'Brien Athletic & Recreation Center improved the Captains to 17-3 overall and 7-2 in the Capital Athletic Conference.

Sophomore Jason Aigner led the way with 20 points, including six-of-ten shooting from behind the arc. The Captains recorded a dozen threes on 28 attempts from long range for the night. CNU managed to hang on to the win despite losing two starters on the same play with 3:36 to play in the second half. Senior Tyler Femiand junior Luther Gibbs both left the game after suffering leg injuries, and did not return.

"We didn't talk about the game at all in the locker room," Head Coach John Krikoriansaid. "Obviously our thoughts are centered on Tyler and Luther and we certainly are hoping for the best."

The back-and-forth battle produced 11 lead changes and was tied at eight different points. The Seahawks, now 7-13 overall and 1-8 in the CAC, led at the half, 35-34, before the Captains caught fire from long range after intermission. Christopher Newport made seven-of-15 shots from distance in the second half to propel them to the road win. 

"Jason Aigner put us on his back tonight, and carried us for a big stretch there in the second half," Krikorian continued. "We weren't able to get much inside for most of the night, and really needed the three-pointers to get us going offensively."

CNU held a 71-67 lead when the play took place knocking Femiand Gibbs out of the game. Down the stretch, freshman Elijah Bowens made three-of-four free throws to help the Captains put the game away. Bowens finished with 11 points. Sophomore Adrian Beasley scored eight points in each half for a career-high 16 in his first start of the season for CNU.

Junior Spencer Schultz led the Seahawks with 22 points, including two on a driving layup with four seconds left when St. Mary's elected to get two rather than shoot a three. The bucket cut the Captains lead to 77-76, but Bowens went to the line after being fouled shortly after and drained both shots to put the Captains up by three, 79-76. A last-second three attempted by junior Justin Milstead clanked off the backboard and rim and CNU held on for the three-point win. Junior Reggie Rouse finished with 19 points, including four three-pointers for St. Mary's.

The Captains were without the services of senior Marcus Carter for the second straight game. Carter suffered a bruised knee in a home victory over Salisbury last Wednesday. His status is still being re-evaluated daily.

The victory, along with Mary Washington's loss to Salisbury and the postponement of the York-Penn State Harrisburg game, allowed the Captains to move alone into first place in the CAC standings at 7-2. York can join the Captains at the top with a victory Thursday, when they will make up the postponed game due to bad weather in Pennsylvania.

Christopher Newport has now won ten straight games over St. Mary's, and the Captains hold a 17-9 advantage in the all-time series.

CNU now has three straight home games at the Freeman Center. The stretch begins Saturday when the Captains host Mary Washington in a 4:00 p.m. start. The game will feature Hall of Fame inductions at halftime, as seven new members of the CNU Athletic Hall of Fame are welcomed.