NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport University men's basketball team will open up the Freeman Center twice more in the 2014 calendar year, hosting the 18th Annual Captains Shootout on December 29-30. The Crowne Plaza Captains Shootout will feature games at 5:30 and 7:30 pm on Monday, December 29, followed by the consolation and championship matchups at 4:00 and 6:00 pm on Tuesday, December 30. 

This year's version of the Captains Shooutout will pit Hood College (3-5) against Worcester State University (2-7) at 5:30, followed by the host Captains (5-3) taking on Otterbein University (2-7) in the late game. The two winning teams will play in the championship at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, immediately following the consolation matchup at 4:00 pm. 

The Captains will look to close out the calendar year by shaking off back-to-back losses in their last two contests. CNU suffered a one-point overtime loss to top-ten Virginia Wesleyan before dropping a close road contest in league play at Salisbury University before the holiday break. Prior to the two game slide, the Captains had opened the season with five wins in their first six matchups.

Sophomore forward Tim Daly leads the charge, scoring 18.7 points and adding 8.7 rebounds per game, while rookie Marcus Carter, 14.8 ppg, and senior Mike Cherry, 11.3 ppg, are also averaging double figures. CNU showcases depth with a strong rookie class as Carter is joined by three more first-year players averaging 13 minutes or more per game. 

On the first day, the Captains will take on the Otterbein Cardinals, who have dropped six of their last seven games this season. Matt Hughes and Jake Phillis are chipping in double figure scoring totals, while Chase Moyer and Bryan Mackenzie are adding 8.8 points per game. 

In the first game of the Shootout, the Blazers of Hood College will take on the Worcester State Lancers. Hood has won two of its last three contests after starting the year just 1-4, while the Lancers have managed just one win in their last seven games. Hood features the leading scorer among all players in the tournament, as Chris Cook comes into the game scoring 23.4 points per game. He's hitting more than two trey's per game, and gets to the line for nearly eight attempts per game while hitting at an 85.7% clip. Worcester State's Paul Brooks has knocked down nearly 55% of his shots this season, averaging 12 points and nine rebounds per game. 

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available for all four games at www.cnusports.com/live.