NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- Christopher Newport men's basketball fans won't have far to go for a pre-season look at the Captains. Thursday night at the Constant Center in Norfolk, CNU will tangle with Old Dominion University in the first of two exhibition games this week. Tipoff time is set for 7:00 p.m.

The game will be broadcast live on the Christoher Newport/Pepsi Radio Network with the pre-game show beginning at 6:40 p.m.

The Captains are coming off a 20-8 season a year ago that saw them advance to the Capital Athletic Conference title game, losing 58-57 at Salisbury in the final seconds. John Krikorian begins his sixth season on the bench with a veteran group, including four returning starters and 15 lettermen back from a year ago.

CNU has two returning seniors, Hunter Wetherell and Connor Laframboise, and the Captains return their top scorer from a year ago, Marcus Carter, who averaged 13 points per game and was named the CAC's Rookie of the Year.

Old Dominion recorded a 27-8 mark last year and advanced to the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York. Jeff Jones is preparing for his third season at the Monarchs' helm, and last year guided his squad to a perfect 20-0 record at the Constant Center. ODU has won 24 straight home games dating back to the 2013-2014 season.

ODU's roster includes former CNU standout Nik Biberaj, who played his first two seasons with the Captains before transferring.

The Captains also will play an exhibition game on Saturday at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina, at 4:00 p.m.

The 2015-2016 season will be the 49th in CNU men's basketball history, and will officially begin on Sunday, November 15th, when the Captains host Lynchburg in a 4:00 p.m. start at the Freeman Center.