NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The stage is set for the 16th Annual Holiday Inn Captains Shootout, as the Freeman Center will play host to a pair of doubleheaders on Friday, December 28 and Saturday, December 29. The first game will tip off at 5:30 pm between Houghton College (N.Y.) and Bridgewater College (Va.), followed by the Captains against Heidelberg University (Ohio) at 7:30 pm.

The consolation game will be played at 4:00 pm on Saturday, followed by the 6:00 pm championship matchup. Live stats will be available of all four games, along with a live video webcast of both CNU contests.

The Shootout has been played every year since 1997-98, with the Captains winning 11 championships while posting a 26-4 record in their home gym. It will be the first appearance in the event for all three of the other teams. 

The game against the Student Princes will be the first for CNU in 11 days, the second double-digit layoff in the month of December. The Captains (6-1) return to action ranked 19th in the country according to the D3hoops.com National Rankings. Junior Tra Benefield (Folkston, Ga.) has led the way, with 18.3 points per game, while also grabbing a team-high 9.2 rebounds per contest. Sophomores Mike Cherry (18.1 ppg) and Nik Biberaj (14.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg) help round out a potent offensive attack. 

The tournament kicks off a stretch of six games in the next 13 days for the Captains, as they will host Ferrum College on January 2, followed by three straight road conference games in the first nine days of the new year. 

Heidelberg (5-5) opened the year with four wins in the first five games, but saw their fortunes reversed over the last five, losing four straight before a two-point win over Wilmington College. Senior forward Nate Davis is the team's leading scorer, pouring in 17.5 points per game, and is averaging a double-double with 10.1 rebounds per game. Dane Givner is also in double figure scoring, adding 10.9 points per game.

Houghton College (0-6) will enter the Shootout with the longest layoff of all four teams, with the Highlanders last game coming on December 7. Chris Confair and Mark O'Brien have led an offense that has struggled so far this season, averaging just 56.3 points per game. Confair has chipped in 14.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, while O'Brien's numbers are 13.5 points and 3.0 rebounds. 

Rounding out the 2012 Shootout field is Bridgewater College, entering the tournament with a 6-3 overall record. Ronnie Thomas (14.1 ppg), Tavis Stapleton (10.9 ppg) and Ed Reddick (10.8 ppg) are the top of the offense for the Eagles, averaging double figures for a team that is averaging just under 75 points per game.