NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University concluded its home schedule Saturday afternoon, and the 22nd-ranked Captains held off the University of Mary Washington, 80-71, at the Freeman Center. Senior All-American Jahn Hines led the way with 24 points, followed by a career-high 23 points from freshman Toa Hollenbeck, and 16 from freshman Tyson Henderson as the Captains improved to 19-5 on the season.

CNU never trailed in the game as the Captains concluded the regular season with a 12-2 home record. The defeat snapped a six-game Mary Washington winning streak, and the Eagles are now 15-8 for the year.

A crowd of 1,183 watched the Captains come out red hot, knocking down nine three-pointers on 19 attempts from long range in the opening half. After leading at the intermission, 42-28, CNU pushed the advantage to 21 early in the second half, 49-28, on a Jahn Hines layup with 18:10 to play. The Eagles, however, would not go down easily and responded with an 18-5 run to cut the lead to eight, 54-46, with 11:10 still to go.  

"When you're playing an in-state rival in a game like this, a 21-point lead is nothing," Head Coach John Krikorian said following the triumph. "I think we could certainly have done some things better with that lead, but credit to Mary Washington for fighting back and hitting some timely shots."

The Eagles would eventually cut the lead as close as five, 74-69, on a three-pointer from junior Matias Prock with 38 seconds remaining...and again on a layup by senior Zack Bluie with 30 seconds left, 76-71,. The Blue bucket, though, would prove to be UMW's final score of the game as the Captains pulled away thanks to three late free throws from Henderson, two from Hollenbeck, and one from sophomore Collin Hines to account for the nine-point final verdict.

Jahn Hines scored 18 of his 24 in the opening half, and then Toa Hollenbeck took over the hot hand in the second stanza by scoring 16 of his 23 after the break. Tyson Henderson filled his stat line with seven assists, four blocked shots, a rebound, and a steal to go with his 16-point effort.

Fifth-year senior big man Ian Anderson played just four minutes of the opening half for the Captains before leaving with a leg injury. The Captains had to rely on freshman Ethan Ward and fifth-year senior Jake Latta inside the rest of the way, and they both delivered with outstanding performances.

"You're never really expecting something like that, to lose a key player and have him not be able to return," Krikorian continued. "Ian has certainly battled through his share of injuries over the years, but this is why you work hard every day in practice and have guys ready to step up. They did a great job."

Collin Hines pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, with Ward right behind him with eight and freshman Hasan Hammad logged seven. CNU and Mary Washington were even in the rebounding column with 43 each in the battle of Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference members. 

The game was a stark contrast to the first meeting of the schools on January 17th in Fredericksburg, when the Captains registered a 59-57 victory in a low-scoring defensive struggle. CNU has now won 11 straight games over the Eagles, and lead the all-time series, 39-7. Blue led four Eagles to reach double figures with 14 points, and Daniel Peterson posted ten points and also pulled down nine boards.

Christopher Newport will conclude the regular season schedule next Saturday, February 17th, when the Captains travel to Salisbury, Md., to take on Salisbury University. Tip off time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Maggs Center.