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FERRUM, Va. -- The Christopher Newport University men's basketball team traveled to Ferrum College for a semifinal matchup between the #2 seed Panthers and #3 seeded Captains and suffered a physical, 87-81 loss. The loss ends CNU's season with an overall record of 18-9.
The Captains and Panthers traded baskets for much of the first half. USA South Player of the Year, Derek Mitchell, led Ferrum in the first half with 12 points while CNU's Tra Benefield (Richmond, VA) tossed in 12 points of his own. Benefield and his fellow starters combined for all but seven of CNU's 36 points in the first half.
Senior, Mike Green (Norfolk, VA) poured in 18 points and collected 12 rebounds in the 101st and likely, final game of his career as a Captain. On his third basket of the second half, Green surpassed the 1,300 point mark for his career, placing him alone at #10 on the CNU all-time scoring list.
Fellow senior, Matt Preston (Nags Head, NC), had 3 key second half baskets which helped CNU whittle down a Ferrum lead late in the second half. A Daryl Hart layup at the 4:44 mark gave Ferrum their largest lead of the game at 13. The Captains came alive after a Benefield dunk sparked a 9-2 run that cut the Panther lead to four at 79-75. CNU could not get any closer than four points as Mitchell scored all six of his second-half points in the last 1:10.
Ferrum will advance to the USA South Championship game on Sunday at North Carolina Wesleyan at 2:00 pm. The top seeded Battling Bishops won their semifinal matchup against Greensboro to advance to the championship game.
