BALTIMORE, Md. - Christopher Newport opened the 2019-2020 men's basketball season Saturday night, dropping a 78-74 decision at Johns Hopkins University's Goldfarb Gymnasium. The Captains, who led by as many as ten midway through the second half, were out-scored by the Blue Jays, 28-14, over the last 10:52 of the second half.

Junior Adrian Beasley led the Captains with a career-high 20 points, and was seven of ten from the field and four of six from beyond the three-point line. Four Captains reached double digits in all, as senior Cutch Ellis added 19, junior Jason Aigner tallied 12, and freshman Ian Anderson recorded 11 in his first game as a Captain.

The Captains, ranked ninth in the country in the pre-season poll from D3hoops.com, trailed by seven in the opening half, 21-14, but bounced back to cut the lead to one at the intermission, 36-35. Following the break, Christopher Newport built the lead to ten, 60-50, with 10:52 to play, before the Blue Jays battled back. Johns Hopkins also had four players reach double figures, led by Conner Delaney's game-high 21 points. 

Both teams registered 33 rebounds, with three seniors (Ellis, Nick Parks, and Dalon McHugh II) pulling down six each for the Captains. Christopher Newport out-shot Johns Hopkins, 46 to 41 percent, for the night.

The game marked just the second meeting all-time of the schools. The Captains beat the Blue Jays in the Championship of the Captains Shootout two seasons ago at the Freeman Center in the first matchup of the schools.

Christopher Newport will host Shenandoah at the Freeman Center Tuesday. The home opener for the Captains will tip off at 5:30 p.m., and will mark the start of the 20th season of action at the Freeman Center.

2019-2020 is the 53rd season of Christopher Newport men's basketball, and the Captains are coming off a 29-4 record last season and a trip to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.