NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- With the 2013-14 season about to begin, Christopher Newport University senior Tra Benefield has received a high honor. Benefield, who led the Captains last season by averaging 17.9 points per game, has been selected pre-season first team All-American by d3hoops.com.

Benefield and the Captains host Arcadia at the Freeman Center Saturday to open the new season. Tipoff time has been changed to 5:00 p.m.

Benefield has had a fantastic first three years at CNU, and begins his senior season 12th on the all-time CNU scoring list. After going over the 1,000-point mark last season, Benefield ended his junior season with 1,295 career points, just nine points behind Mike Green for 11th place all-time.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE PRE-SEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM FROM D3HOOPS.COM

Christopher Newport is coming off a 22-6 season and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. John Krikorian begins his fourth season leading the Captains, and has compiled an overall record of 63-20 (.759) over his first three years.

Last season's trip to the NCAA Tournament was the 19th in the 46-year history of the program. CNU's win in the NCAA Tournament over Rutgers-Newark was the first post-season win for the Captains since 2001.

The Captains return a solid nucleus of players led by Benefield and junior guard Mike Cherry and sophomore forward Evan Thorpe.

The opener Saturday will mark the first meeting ever with Arcadia, which is located in Glenside, PA. The Knights were 16-11 last season.

The 2013-14 season begins a new era in Christopher Newport men's basketball. The Captains are now members of the Capital Athletic Conference after being charter members of the USA South (previously the Dixie Conference).

All CNU games are broadcast live on the Christopher Newport/Pepsi Radio Network (Xtra 99.1 FM)...with live audio and video available at www.CNUsports.com.

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