NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Christopher Newport's men's basketball team fell 83-79 to York (NY) Friday night on day one of the 22nd Annual CNU Invitational.
Greensboro came from behind to defeat Curry in game one, 95-86.
The Captains drop to 0-2 on the year and it's the second straight season CNU has begun the year with two consecutive losses.
The difference in the game seemed to be second chance points for the Cardinals. They out-rebounded CNU, 38-28, which led to 13 York second chance points.
York dominated points in the paint as well, 44-28.
CNU led by as many as four midway through the first half and saw the Cardinals roar back as they went on a 15-4 run to take a 29-22 lead with 7:22 left in the opening half.
York would eventually lead by nine, 35-26, with 4:38 left in the first on Michael Salamanca jumper and would lead by eight, 44-36, at the half.
The Cardinals led by as many as 13 in the second half early, 49-36, with 18:07 left. Christopher Newport whittled the lead down to four, 64-60, with 5:30 to play on Davon Barton's lay-up.
CNU however could not get any close as York responded with six straight points to increase its lead to 10. The Captains got it back to four with 2:08 to go, but could not get any closer.
York finished 29-of-52 (56%) from the field, 5-of-13 (39%) from behind the arc and 20-of-36 (56%) from the stripe. Salamanca paced the Cardinals with 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Marcel Esonwune added 16 points and six boards and Rodney Bennett finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, both coming off the bench.
Christopher Newport finished 27-of-61 (44%) from the floor, 9-of-30 (30%) from long range and 16-of-17 (94%) from the free throw line. Barton led the Captains with 26 points and eight assists. Theo Baker added 17 and Thomas Whinnett finished with 10.
York improves to 2-2 on the year. The Cardinals will play Greensboro at 5 pm Saturday and the Captains will take on Curry at 7:30 pm.
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