NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - It will be a busy weekend of basketball at the Freeman Center, as Christopher Newport hosts the CNU/Holiday Inn Invitational Saturday and Sunday. The Captains, off to a 2-0 start, will host the Monarchs of Methodist University Saturday, with tip off scheduled for 4:00 p.m. The opening game of the two-day tournament will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday as John Carroll takes on Thomas More. Methodist is off to a 1-2 start, while John Carroll enters the tournament with a 2-0 mark and Thomas More is 2-2.

Saturday's battle with Methodist will be the home opener for the Captains. John Krikorian's squad opened the season last weekend on the road by capturing the Tipoff Tournament at Marymount University, posting dominant victories over Trinity (TX) and Marymount. The Captains were led by senior Marcus Carter, who posted 24 points and 17 rebounds in the two victories. Carter was selected the MVP of the tourney, while junior Luther Gibbs, who totaled 13 points and eight boards, was voted to the All-Tournament squad. All 17 Captains dressed last weekend saw playing time in both games, with CNU registering 16 and ten-point triumphs to open the new season. 

Christopher Newport and Methodist, longtime rivals when the Captains were in the USA South, will be meeting for the 91st time...with CNU holding a 65-25 edge in the series. The Captains have won the last ten games against the Monarchs, but the schools have not played since the 2012-2013 season. Christopher Newport is 4-1 all-time vs. John Carroll, and has never played Thomas More in the 52-year history of the CNU program.

Tickets for the CNU/Holiday Inn Invitational will be available at the Freeman Center ticket office. The Invitational will continue on Sunday, with the third-place game scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and the Championship set for a 4:00 p.m. start. All Christopher Newport action is broadcast live on the Christopher Newport/Pepsi Radio Network (Xtra 99.1 FM) with the pre-game show beginning 20 minutes prior to tip off. Live stats and video will also be available at CNUsports.com/watch.