NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In the Week 2 D3hoops.com National Rankings, the Christopher Newport University men's basketball team has jumped into the Top 15, currently ranked the No. 15 team in the nation. The Captains, unbeaten through their first five games for the first time since 2004, will face a big test this week as they travel to No. 24 St. Mary's College (Md.) on Wednesday.

CNU, ranked 18th in the first regular season poll of the year, picked up three spots in the second week after winning their only matchup against Maryville College in USA South action. The Captains improved to 5-0 overall, 1-0 in league play, and will now set its sights on yet another tough early season opponent in the Seahawks, who have started the year 5-1. 

Mike Cherry has led CNU in scoring in four of the first five games and is pouring in 21.4 points per game so far, while adding 18 rebounds and 12 assists. Junior Tra Benefield is the team leader in rebounding with nearly nine boards per contest, while he has added 17.0 points per game as well. Rounding out the stellar scoring trio the Captains feature is sophomore big man Nik Biberaj, adding 17.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. 

St. Mary's features a resilient team that has picked up four of its five wins by ten points or fewer. The Seahawks are strong defensively, holding opponents to just 53.2 points per game so far this year, while picking up over nine steals and three blocks per contest. Offensively, three different players are averaging double figures,  led by sophomore Nick Laguerre (12.3 ppg). Junior Donn Hill (10.2 ppg) and senior Jeff Haus (10.0 ppg) round out the offensive leaders, as all three players are averaging over 25 minutes per game.

Wednesday night's nationally ranked battle will tip off at 7:00 pm in St. Mary's City, Md. with live stats available online.

D3hoops.com National Top 25 - Week 2

#	School (1st votes)	Rec	Pts	Prev.
1	Virginia Wesleyan (13)	5-0	611	2
2	UW-Whitewater (10)	5-0	601	3
3	Middlebury (1)	6-0	563	4
4	North Central (Ill.)	6-0	549	5
5	St. Thomas (1)	5-0	517	8
6	Washington U.	7-0	454	10
7	UW-Stevens Point	5-0	442	9
8	Franklin and Marshall	5-0	415	11
9	Scranton	5-0	377	12
10	Amherst	5-1	350	6
11	Rochester	8-0	327	17
12	Catholic	5-0	282	14
13	Ramapo	4-0	274	13
14	Rhode Island College	6-0	261	--
15	Christopher Newport	5-0	233	18
16	Wooster	5-1	210	16
17	Illinois Wesleyan	5-2	181	7
18	MIT	6-1	180	1
19	Adrian	7-0	179	20
20	Whitworth	3-1	176	15
21	New York University	4-0	157	22
22	Wheaton (Ill.)	6-0	133	--
23	Albertus Magnus	4-0	116	23
24	St. Mary's (Md.)	4-1	77	25
25	Stevens	5-0	68	--

Dropped out: No. 19 Hope, No. 21 Cabrini, No. 24 Williams.

Others receiving votes: Augustana 65; N.C. Wesleyan 55; Ohio Wesleyan 37; Whitman 35; WPI 30; Springfield 26; Birmingham-Southern 20; Rose-Hulman 19; Carroll 17; Hampden-Sydney 16; Augsburg 12; UW-La Crosse 11; Williams 10; Transylvania 8; Oswego State 6; Cabrini 5; UW-Stout 5; Thomas More 4; Wittenberg 4; Hope 3; Salisbury 2; UW-Platteville 1; Lycoming 1.

The D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly.