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LaGRANGE, Ga. -- Senior Conley Taylor broke out with his first 30-point performance of the season as he led the Captains (6-3) past LaGrange College (4-8) in a high-scoring game, 97-83.  Four different Christopher Newport players were in double figures led by Taylor's 30 as CNU shot 49.3% in the game.

Despite scoring 50 first-half points, the Captains defense is what led the way to a double-digit lead at the break. CNU forced eight turnovers, led by four steals from Taylor. The Captains scored 23 points in the first half off of Panthers miscues, and held LaGrange to just 23 first-half attempts.

The home team managed to hang in by shooting a scorching 60.9% from the field (14-23). Marcus Vaughn knocked down all four shots he took for a team-high nine points, but the Captains managed to take a 14-point lead into the break, 50-36.

Taylor scored 19 points in the first half on 7-of-14 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers, while also grabbing two boards and four steals. Sophomore Tra Benefield was also in double figures with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, adding five rebounds.

In the second half, the Captains continued to shoot well from the field, getting layups and finishing the second half at 50% shooting (15-30). CNU would build the lead to as many as 22 with 9:28 remaining on a pair of free-throws from Taylor, making it 76-54. He finished 8-of-10 from the charity stripe to lead CNU's 24-34 night at the line.

Freshmen Nik Biberaj and Mike Cherry each joined Benefield and Taylor in double figures, scoring 14 and 10 points respectively. Biberaj also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and blocked a pair of shots in the game. Taylor finished the game with 30 points, six rebounds and tied a career-high with six steals.

For LaGrange, Vaughn finished with a team-high 22 points with six rebounds, while Kyron Anderson (19 pts, 7 reb) and Blake Craft (10 pts) were also in double figures.

The Captains also dominated in the paint, outscoring LaGrange 54-26 close to the basket. CNU finished with 30 points off of turnovers and 36 second-chance points.

CNU will take 11 days off for the holidays before hosting the Captains Shootout on December 29-30. The Captains will play Piedmont on Thursday, December 29 at 7:30 pm after Worcester State and McDaniel play at 5:30 pm.