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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – In their home opener last month, the Christopher Newport men's basketball team played an opponent from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference ranked eleventh nationally and earned a one-point win in overtime. Sunday, the Captains dropped a one-point overtime decision to Virginia Wesleyan, 84-83, also ranked No. 11 nationally.
 
A rivalry game that dates back to 1967, the first year basketball was sponsored as a varsity sport at Christopher Newport, the 82^nd installment of the series adds yet another chapter to the history between the two schools.
 
As time was running out at the end of regulation, Newport News native Breven Lyons, a 5 foot, 6 inch senior guard for the Marlins, brought the ball across mid-court trailing by three. Stepping back behind the three-point line, the senior who is averaging only 7 points per game, connected on a hurried shot and tied the game at 79 with six seconds to play.
 
In overtime, it was again Lyons, who played at Warwick High School, a mile from CNU's campus, that stepped up with the game on the line. Mike Cherry gave the Captains a 83-82 lead with 44 seconds to play with a layup in the lane. After the Marlins' Greg Montgomery turned the ball over, freshman Logan Miller went to the line and missed a pair of free throws for CNU.
 
Yet again, with six seconds remaining, Lyons seized the moment and sent a floater over the Captains defense after he collected a loose ball rebound in the lane after Montgomery's miss. The shot gave Virginia Wesleyan an 84-83 lead, one which would hold as the final score.
 
"Congratulations to Lyons," said CNU Head Coach, John Krikorian. "He has worked for three years to be in that position and he took advantage of the opportunity in his home town."
 
CNU jumped out early to lead by seven with 15:44 to play, the first of several mini-runs by both teams throughout the game. The Marlins answered quickly as Cameron Owens connected on a trio of three-point baskets and Greg Montgomery added a layup as Virginia Wesleyan raced back into the lead with an 18-14 advantage, a 15-3 run.
 
Christopher Newport went to the half with a 34-31 lead and stymied the Marlins, holding them to only 33% shooting in the opening frame.
 
CNU played the entire game without sophomore forward, Tim Daly, who suffered a knee injury during practice earlier this week. Yet, without their leading scorer and rebounder, the Captains played toe-to-toe with the nationally ranked Marlins.
 
"I told our guys before the game that we have to replace 19 points and 9 rebounds," Krikorian said after the game. "We knew we weren't going to get it all from one guy."
 
Junior forward, Hunter Wetherell, did his best to fill in for Daly scoring a career high 13 points and adding 9 rebounds. However, the Captains backcourt led the way.
 
Senior, Mike Cherry returned to the starting line-up after a two game absence and contributed 24 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Freshman Aaron McFarland chimed in with 10 points and 6 rebounds while sophomore Rayshard Brown added 9 points and 5 rebounds.
 
Despite scoring a season-low six points, freshman Marcus Carter helped CNU win the battle on the glass by collecting 9 rebounds and contributing 4 blocked shots.
 
Virginia Wesleyan was paced by senior guard, Greg Montgomery who shot 19 free throws en route a game-high 27 points. His teammate, Cameron Owens contributed 22 points off of a 6-9 shooting performance, 5 of 5 from beyond the arc.
 
The loss drops CNU to 5-2 on the season and they will return to play Wednesday afternoon at Salisbury University. Game time is set for 5 p.m. in the Capital Athletic Conference matchup. The Captains will enter Wednesday's game with a 2-0 record in conference play while Salisbury has yet to collect a league win at 0-2.