Click For CNU Men's Game Notes
Click for CNU Women's Game Notes
NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- After a 25-game regular season that saw the Christopher Newport men's and women's basketball teams combine to post a 46-4 overall record, it's on to the playoffs for both squads beginning Thursday night.
CNU hosts a men's and women's basketball playoff doubleheader Thursday night at the Freeman Center. The action begins at 6:00 p.m. with the women's game against Mary Washington, followed by the men's battle vs. St. Mary's at 8:00 p.m. The winners of the games will advance to the Capital Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday.
The CNU men are 24-1 overall and ranked fifth in the nation. Christopher Newport went 18-0 in the CAC this season to win the conference's regular-season crown, becoming only the second team in the 26-year history of the conference to post an undefeated final league record (Catholic was 14-0 in 1997-1998).
John Krikorian's squad, the top seed in the six-team tournament, has won 15 straight games heading into the matchup with the Seahawks of St. Mary's. CNU has prided itself on defense all season long, and the Captains have held their opponent to 60 points or less 12 times this year, including eight days ago when CNU beat St. Mary's, 69-53, at the Freeman Center. The Captains also won in St. Mary's City, MD, on January 20th, 83-67.
St. Mary's is 13-13 on the year after beating Southern Virginia on Tuesday night, 70-65, to advance to the semi-final game with the Captains.
The women's opening game features two teams that have already racked up 22 wins this season. Christopher Newport's women's team is the second-seed in the tournament, and will be hosting third-seeded Mary Washington. The Captains are 22-3 and were 15-3 in league play this year. CNU is ranked 20th in the country, and had won 17 straight games prior to a loss last Saturday at home to top seed Marymount.
Bill Broderick's squad has beaten Mary Washington twice this season, 58-48 in Fredericksburg and 59-53 at the Freeman Center. Thursday night's battle figures to be another defensive struggle, as neither squad has hit the 60-point mark in the first two meetings.
The Eagles advanced to Thursday night's semi-final with a quarter-final win at home on Tuesday night over St. Mary's, 78-48. UMW is now 22-4 overall.
.
Tickets are available for the doubleheader at the Freeman Center Ticket Office, which will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Thursday. The ticket office can also be reached at 757-594-7880. CNU students will be admitted free with Student ID. Doors to the Freeman Center will open at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, and tickets will be available at the door as well.
The games will be streamed live on CNUsports.com/live. The men's game will also be broadcast on the Christopher Newport/Pepsi Radio Network (Xtra 99.1 FM) with the pre-game show beginning at 7:40 p.m.
