NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Junior Jahn Hines exploded for a career-high 33 points Saturday afternoon as fourth-ranked Christopher Newport University rallied in the second half to beat Salisbury University, 84-74. The Captains improved to 18-3 with the victory in front of 2,214 observers at the Freeman Center.

Hines registered 19 first-half points and added 14 more after the intermission to surpass his previous career-high of 29 points set in the season-opening victory at Johns Hopkins University. Hines, an All-American from Norfolk, made 12 of 21 shots for the day, including two of three from three-point range. He also was seven-of-nine at the foul stripe. He has been named the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week four times this year, including this past week, and was averaging 17.5 points per game heading into Saturday's tilt.

CNU, coming off a 12-day break, trailed Salisbury at halftime, 47-44, after the teams exchanged the lead four times in the first 20 minutes. The Captains went on to out-score the Sea Gulls in the second half, 40-27, thanks to an outstanding defensive effort.

"We had to make some adjustments at halftime and switch more screens than we normally would, but we didn't allow a three-pointer in the second half," Head Coach John Krikorian said. "I was really proud of our second-half defense. We've had some great first-half efforts, but today we stepped up and got the job done when we really needed to."

Hines, who also pulled down eight rebounds, was joined by fifth-year senior Matthew Brodie in double figures. Brodie posted 16 points and also registered a team-high nine rebounds. Junior Trey Barber scored 12 points as the Captains improved to 9-1 at home this season.

Christopher Newport knocked down four three-pointers in the second half after making just one of eight attempts in the opening half. Fifth-year senior Brandon Edmond, who made his first start of the season, sank two and Brodie and Hines also hit from long range to spark the Captains.

The crowd of 2,214 is the third-largest in CNU men's basketball history, and came on a day the Captains dedicated to the Richneck Elementary School community. The school is scheduled to re-open on Monday after a shooting there on January 6th.

"I'm thankful that we were able to do something to give a lift to that community right now," Krikorian continued. "Hopefully they were able to briefly focus on something enjoyable, what I thought was a really high-level college basketball game. The energy here today with the crowd and the band was really special, and I hope everyone had a great time."   

CNU's defense held Salisbury to just 33 percent shooting in the second half (nine-of-27) after SU shot 54 percent (19-of-35) in the opening half. The Captains out-rebounded the Gulls for the day, 40-36, and committed just six turnovers in the victory. The Captains stretched the lead to as many as 11 in the second stanza en route to the ten-point triumph. 

Salisbury, now 10-11, was led by 21 points from fifth-year senior Greg Bloodsworth and 19 off the bench from sophomore Sean Carr. Bloodsowrth tallied 15 in the first half but was held to one-of-seven shooting by the Captains in the second half. The Sea Gulls have now dropped four straight games.

The game marked the 12th straight victory for the Captains over the Sea Gulls in a series that dates back to 1980. The matchup was the 50th all-time, and the Captains now hold a 35-15 edge.

Christopher Newport travels to Fredericksburg on Wednesday night to take on the Eagles of Mary Washington. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at Ron Rosner Arena,.