NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport held off a stubborn charge from Randolph College Friday night at the Freeman Center, defeating the WildCats by a 66-58 final margin. The Captains are now 4-1 to start the season, while Randolph fell to 2-2 thanks to the result on the first day of the Christopher Newport Classic.
Junior
Jason Aigner posted a game-high 18 points on six three-point field goals for the ninth-ranked Captains. Aigner made six of 11 shots, all taken behind the three-point line. Senior
Dalon McHugh II recorded a double-double with 15 points and ten rebounds, the first of the season for the Captains.
Christopher Newport held an eight-point lead at the half, 34-26, and built the advantage to 16 just over three minutes into the second half with an 8-0 run, 42-26. The WildCats bounced back and chipped away to cut the lead down to three, 54-51, with just under seven minutes to play. The Captains would answer with another run, this time ten straight points with McHugh scoring seven of them over the next four minutes, to open a 64-51 lead. Christopher Newport then hung on over the final two minutes for the eight-point victory.
Senior
Luther Gibbs had another standout performance for Christopher Newport, scoring 11 points, pulling down five rebounds, registering three assists, as well as two blocks and two steals.
Shooting was a struggle all night for both squads, as the Captains made just 33 percent of their shots (26 of 80) and the WildCats also converted 33 percent of the time, making 23 of 69 attempts. Christopher Newport out-rebounded Randolph, 59-43, with 23 of the 59 boards coming at the offensive end.
The victory was the 20th straight for the Captains at the Freeman Center. Randolph College was led by Brian Smith's 12 points.
The WildCats (2-2) will play Mary Washington (5-1) at the Freeman Center Saturday at 5:00 p.m. as the Christopher Newport Classic continues. The Captains (4-1) will then play the Hornets of Lynchburg College (4-2) Saturday night with tipoff time set for 7:00 p.m. Lynchburg fell to 4-2 on the season after losing to Mary Washington, 88-84, in the opening game of the Christopher Newport Classic Friday night.
