NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- The Christopher Newport men's basketball squad set a new school record Monday night at the Freeman Center by attempting 38 three-point shots. The Captains connected on 15 of those long-range jumpers, and posted a 71-55 win over Otterbein in the opening round of the Crowne Plaza Captains Shootout. CNU is now 6-3 and will face Hood College Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. in the Championship Game.

Freshman Marcus Carter led the way for the Captains, scoring a career-high 27 points. Carter, a product of Bruton High School in Williamsburg, made seven of nine total shots, and six of seven from three-point range. He also registered eight rebounds, four blocks, and two steals.

"We talk a lot about being efficient on the court," Head Coach John Krikorian said following the win. "Marcus played 29 minutes and quietly, and in the flow of the game, produced some great numbers."

Senior guard Mike Cherry had the hot hand early, posting all four of his triples in the opening half. Cherry finished the night with 14 points and was four of eight from beyond the arc.

"Mike really set the tone early in the game," Krikorian continued. "He got us going and everybody seemed to follow the lead."

Otterbein opened the game with a three-point field goal, and led for just over a minute. It would be the only lead of the night for the Cardinals, who dropped to 2-8 with the loss. Christopher Newport then scored 11 straight points and the Captains never trailed again. CNU opened up a 37-27 lead at the half, went up by as many as 20 in the second half at 53-33, and then held off the Cardinals down the stretch for the 16-point verdict.

The 38 three-point attempts eclipsed the all-time school mark of 34 set against Ferrum in 1988 and vs. Southern Virginia in 2003. CNU's 15 three-pointers was just two shy of the all-time record of 17 set in three games (once in 2003 and twice in 2012). CNU is now 3-0 all-time vs. Otterbein. 

The Captains will take on a Hood squad that beat Worcester State, 70-62, in the opening game of the two-day tournament. Hood is 4-5 on the year and the Blazers were led by a 27-point performance from Chris Cook.

The Championship Game at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday will be the third game of the day at the Freeman Center. The CNU women's team will entertain Eastern Mennonite at 2:00 p.m. followed by the third-place game of the Captains Shootout (Otterbein vs. Worcester State) at 4:00 p.m.