ROCKY MOUNT, NC – Christopher Newport's men's basketball squad remained in first place with a 77-69 USA South win at NC Wesleyan Wednesday night.
It was an intense first half as the Bishops and Captains came out firing on all cylinders. CNU led early, by four, 12-8. NC Wesleyan came right down and drilled a three-pointer to cut the lead to one with 16:19 left in the first half.
The Captains led by five, 23-18, with 11:27 left and Bishops responded by going on an 8-0 run to take a three-point lead, 26-23, with 10:04 to play in the first. CNU countered with an 8-0 run of it's to re-take the lead, 31-26, with 5:35 left. NC Wesleyan cut the lead to one several times, but Christopher Newport took a five-point lead, 43-38, into the locker room at the break.
The second half saw both teams make spurts to take as the two teams combined for 14 lead changes.
NC Wesleyan started the half on a 7-4 run to take a one point lead with 17:32 left in the game. CNU scored five straight to re-take the lead by four. The Bishops once again took a one-point lead, 56-55, with 10:52 left.
A 16-8 CNU run gave the Captains its largest lead of the game to that point, seven, 71-64, with 3:26 to go. NC Wesleyan whittled the lead to as few as four with 1:20 to go, but that would be as close as they would get.
The Bishops finished 25-of-75 (33%) from the field, 6-of-30 (20%) from behind the arc and 13-of-20 (65%) from the free throw line. Adam Coleman led NC Wesleyan with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Jarmel Arrington finished with nine. CNU held Trey Drake, the conference's third leading scorer, scoreless, as he finished 0-for-9. Arrington is the USA South's leading scorer.
Christopher Newport finished 26-of-58 (45%) from the floor, 6-of-16 (38%) from long range and 19-of-31 (61%) from the charity stripe. Davon Barton led four CNU players in double figures with 16 points and six assists. Thomas Whinnett finished with 15 points and seven boards. Mike Green added 14 points and 12 rebounds and Mark Blasingame had 12 points and 11 boards.
NC Wesleyan falls to 14-7 overall and 4-4 in USA South play. The Captains are also 14-7 but are 7-1 in the conference.
CNU hits the road for the final time this coming weekend when they head to Averett Saturday with tip-off set for 4 pm.
Box Score
