NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University posted a wire-to-wire victory Sunday, defeating Misericordia University, 81-50, in the opening round of the Captains Shootout. Fifth-year senior All-American Jahn Hines led the way with 19, and sophomore Toa Hollenbeck added 17 as the Captains improved to 11-3 on the season.

Christopher Newport will play Berry College (Ga.) in the Championship game of the two-day tournament on Monday, with tip off set for 5:00 p.m. at the Freeman Center. Berry is 7-5 after downing Ferrum College, 83-79 in overtime, in Sunday's other opening round game. Misericordia (6-3) will play Ferrum (9-2) in the third-place game at 3:00 p.m.

"I thought we were locked in today playing CNU basketball, especially our defense in the first half" Head Coach John Krikorian said. "To hold them to 22 points in the first half and to limit their top scorer, Kevin Lazdowsky, to just seven points was really impressive. After that, the first five minutes of the second half was really important for us to put our foot down and continue to build the lead. Once we did that, we were able to play a lot of young guys down the stretch and get them some valuable playing time."

CNU held a 39-22 edge at the half in the first meeting ever of the programs, and opened the lead with a strong start to the second half that saw the Captains out-score the Cougars, 17-1, over the first four minutes. Christopher Newport went on to open a 36-point advantage, its biggest of the game, 77-41, with 5:26 remaining en route to the 31-point final verdict.

Jahn Hines moved into seventh place on the CNU all-time scoring list in the second half, passing Antoine Sinclair with his only three-pointer of the day with 16:29 to play. Hines has now scored 1,740 career points in 108 games as a Captain, and is 54 points behind Tra Benefield for sixth on the list. In addition to his 19 points, Hines also contributed seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals for CNU.

Christopher Newport dominated the boards, out-rebounding Misericordia, 55-35, for the day. Freshman Ryan MacKinnon led the way with nine rebounds in 12 minutes of playing time. The Captains shot 47 percent from the floor (34 of 72), and held the Cougars to just 29 percent shooting (18 of 62). All 16 CNU players available saw playing time, and 13 got into the scoring column.

Sunday's triumph came in the 400th game for Krikorian leading the Captains. He now has a career mark at CNU of 325-75 for a winning percentage of .813 since taking over the program in the 2010-2011 season.

Sunday's results set up a Championship game between CNU and Berry College, who met last season on New Year's Day in Mount Berry, Ga. The Captains prevailed in the first meeting ever of the programs, 76-61, as Jahn Hines led the way with a career-high 39 points. Berry's Braxton Benham scored 20 vs. the Captains in the game, and posted a game-high 33 points in Berry's Sunday overtime win over Ferrum in the opening game at the Freeman Center.

"Berry can really shoot the ball, and that will be a great challenge for us on Monday," Krikorian said. "We're going to have to defend the three-point line and try to limit Braxton Benham, who's one of the best guards we will see all season. It's going to be a great challenge."