MIDDLETOWN, PA - The Christopher Newport men's basketball squad concluded regular-season action on Saturday, pulling away late for a 66-56 victory over Penn State Harrisburg. The Captains improved to 18-7 overall and 13-5 in the Capital Athletic Conference. CNU will host a quarterfinal round game Tuesday night at the Freeman Center in the CAC post-season tournament. The opponent and game time will be determined on Sunday.

"I give Penn State Harrisburg a lot of credit, they gave us a terrific battle," CNU Head Coach John Krikorian said following the triumph. "They didn't have much to play for other than pride in their program, and they played hard and gave us everything they had."

The victory was the 100th for Krikorian at Christopher Newport in just five seasons of leading the Captains. His overall record is now 100-36 for a 74 percent winning percentage since taking over the program from C.J. Woollum.

Christopher Newport was led Saturday by two of its outstanding freshmen, Marcus Carter and Aaron McFarland. Carter tallied 13 points in the opening half and finished the day with a team-high 17. McFarland posted ten second-half points to end up with 16 for the afternoon.

The teams battled back-and-forth for most of the game before CNU pulled away late in the second half. The teams went to intermission with the game tied at 28-28, but CNU was able to surge to a lead of as many as a dozen late in the game.

Junior Hunter Wetherell also finished in double digits with ten points as the Captains swept the season series with the Lions.

"Hunter did a lot of good things today," Krikorian continued. "We are in a good position heading into the tournament next week. We're healthy for the most part and we're fortunate to be able to host in the first round on Tuesday. We need to get some rest now, and then start preparing for what should be some great battles."

Penn State Harrisburg was led by senior Alberto De Los Santos, who scored a game-high 25 points on Senior Day for the Lions. Penn State Harrisburg finishes the season with a record of 3-22 overall and 3-15 in the CAC, and will not advance to the six-team post-season tournament next week.

CNU shot 49 percent from the floor for the day, but made just four of 21 shots from three-point range. The Captains out-rebounded the Lions, 34-23, with Wetherell leading the squad with seven boards to go with his ten points.

The Captains will learn their opponent for Tuesday night on Sunday when Marymount plays at Frostburg State to conclude the regular-season CAC schedule. The game was scheduled for Saturday, but moved to Sunday due to wintry weather condiitons.

CNU will be either the third or fourth seed in the six-team field. A win Sunday by Marymount would make the Captains the fourth seed and CNU would host fifth-seeded Wesley on Tuesday night. If Frostburg State prevails on Sunday, the Captains will be seeded third and will host the sixth-seeded Bobcats.

St. Mary's is the top seed heading into the tournament, and Salisbury is second-seeded. Both will have byes on Tuesday and will host games in the semi-finals next Thursday evening.

Tickets for the CNU men's and women's doubleheader Tuesday night will be available beginning Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Freeman Center Ticket Office.