NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport surged past St. Mary's (Md.) Wednesday night at the Freeman Center, 93-58, for the ninth consecutive victory for the Captains. Junior Jason Aigner led the way with 21 points as Christopher Newport improved to 16-4 overall and 5-0 atop the Capital Athletic Conference.

The Captains trailed in the opening half, 13-9, before going on an 18-2 run to open a 27-15 advantage. Christopher Newport led at the half, 46-27, and then opened the lead to as many as 40 in the second half, 90-50, en route to the 35-point triumph. The game was the first at home for the Captains in 19 days, and the first with students back from holiday break for second semester.

"It was good to be back home again...I think our guys really picked up intensity with our crowd and the band behind them," Head Coach John Krikorian said. "When we went to our bench in the first half, that's when things really seemed to turn around. They gave us a lift and we were able to get ahead of them."

Christopher Newport's bench out-scored the St. Mary's bench for the night, 32-11, and 13 of 14 Captains who saw action reached the scoring column.

Aigner, who was eight for 13 from the field, made five of ten attempts from beyond the three-point line. The Fairfax native has now scored 940 career points in 82 games as a Captain. Senior Dalon McHugh II registered his third straight double-double by scoring 16 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. Fellow seniors Cutch Ellis (10) and Nick Parks (10) also ended up in double figures as the Captains, who are now 8-1 at home this season.

The Captains knocked down 14 three-pointers and made 14 of 29 shots from long range (48 percent). Christopher Newport made 33 of 64 total attempts (52 percent) and also out-rebounded the Seahawks, 49-37.

St. Mary's, now 7-13 overall and 2-3 in the CAC, was held to 36 percent shooting for the night (23 of 64). Freshman Gary Grant led the Seahawks with 18 points. The Captains have now won 11 straight games over the Seahawks and lead the all-time series, 18-9. The squads will match up again next Wednesday night in St. Mary's City, Md.

Christopher Newport hosts Mary Washington on Saturday at the Freeman Center. Tip off is set for 4:00 p.m. for the CAC battle. The 2020 class of inductees into the Christopher Newport Athletic Hall of Fame will be introduced at halftime of Saturday's game.


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