NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport returned from a 12-day break Saturday and recorded an impressive 96-52 victory over Bethany College (WV). The triumph came in the opening round of the Holiday Inn/Captains Shootout at the Freeman Center, and improved the Captains record to 8-4 on the season.

Christopher Newport will host Wesley College Sunday at 4:00 p.m. in the championship game of the two-day tournament. Wesley, now 5-6, defeated Emory & Henry in the opening game Saturday, 97-75.

Five Captains reached double figures in the 44-point win, led by a career-high 13 points from freshman Jake Latta in just 14 minutes of playing time. Sophomore Keyshawn Jefferson also recorded a career-best 12 points. Freshman Ian Anderson (12), senior Dalon McHugh II  (11), and junior Adrian Beasley (11) also ended up in double digits.

"We needed a game like this to get us back on the right track," Head Coach John Krikorian said following the home win. "We had gotten away from playing the kind of high-intensity defense that we're looking for every time we play. It certainly says a lot about our balance that we scored 96 points and nobody had more than 13."

The Captains, who had lost their last two games before the holiday break, held the Bison to just 29 percent shooting (18 of 62) and forced 19 turnovers. Christopher Newport out-rebounded Bethany, 59-36, and was led by senior Cutch Ellis' 11 boards.

Christopher Newport held a 43-25 advantage at halftime, and then out-scored Bethany in the second half, 53-27, to coast to the victory. The Captains are now 6-1 this season at the Freeman Center, where they went 18-0 last season.

The Captains made 18 of 34 shots in the second stanza, and finished the game 35 of 78 (45 percent). All 15 players dressed played for Christopher Newport, and 12 got into the scoring column. The 96-point effort was the highest point total so far this season for the Captains.

Sunday's schedule will have Bethany, now 0-10, taking on Emory & Henry (3-7) in the third-place game at 2:00 p.m. Christopher Newport will then play the Wolverines of Wesley (4-5) in the title game of the 23rd annual holiday tournament. Wesley was led by senior Brian Cameron's 34-point effort on Saturday.

Christopher Newport has won 16 of the previous 22 Captains Shootouts.

Tickets for Sunday's doubleheader will be available at the Freeman Center. The games will be streamed live on CNUsports.com/watch with live stats of both games also available. The championship will be broadcast live on the Christopher Newport/Pepsi Radio Network (Xtra 99.1 FM) with the pre-game show beginning at 3:40 p.m.

Sunday's game will be the final of 2019 for the Captains, who will open 2020 next Thursday at Washington College (MD).