NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport celebrated six senior members Saturday afternoon, and then pulled away in the second half to defeat Salisbury, 82-64, at the Freeman Center. The victory improved Christopher Newport to 19-5 overall and 8-1 in the Capital Athletic Conference with just one game remaining in the regular season. 

Junior Jason Aigner led the way with 23 points, and went over the 1,000-point mark for his career. He became just the 33rd Christopher Newport men's basketball player to reach the 1,000-point plateau, and hit the mark with a first half three-pointer, one of six he had on the day. Aigner has now scored 1,009 career points in 86 career games, and was six of 14 on three-pointers for the day.

Aigner was joined in double figures by senior Dalon McHugh II, who registered his eighth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Ten of McHugh's 16 points came in the second half, and he was joined by freshman Ian Anderson in extending the Christopher Newport lead. Anderson posted 11 of his 15 points after the break. 

Christopher Newport fell behind by seven in the opening half before an 18-4 run put the Captains ahead by seven. Christopher Newport jumped ahead, 29-28, and never trailed again all day. Salisbury cut the lead to three at the intermission, 39-36, but the Captains took control and out-scored the Sea Gulls in the second half, 43-28, to race to the 18-point final verdict. Salisbury fell to 10-14 overall with the loss and 4-5 in the CAC. The Gulls were led by Johnny Fierstein's 16 points.

"I really thought we turned it up a notch in the second half and came out with a different mindset," Head Coach John Krikorian said. "We showed it in our rebounding and our intensity level, and that led to us distancing ourselves a little bit. Senior Day is always emotional and there's a lot going on heading into the game. We've got six very special seniors who have given this program so much over the last four years...it was a fitting way to celebrate them."

McHugh was honored along with fellow seniors Savonte Chappell, Brock Geiman, Luther Gibbs, Cutch Ellis, and Nick Parks in a pre-game ceremony. The Captains out-rebounded the Sea Gulls, 49-33, and Ellis joined McHugh with 11 boards each. Christopher Newport has not been out-rebounded by an opponent this season, and held a 20-7 edge on the offensive glass.

The victory was Christopher Newport's ninth in a row over the Sea Gulls, and 12th in the last 13 meetings. The Captains are now 11-1 at the Freeman Center this season, and committed just six turnovers in the win.

Saturday's victory in front of 1,518 Freeman faithful kept the Captains tied with York (Pa.) in the conference standings at 8-1. The Spartans came from behind to win over Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, 74-71.

The Captains conclude the regular season on Wednesday night, hosting the Knights of Southern Virginia University. Tipoff time is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Freeman Center. York concludes the regular season Wednesday by hosting St. Mary's, and if both teams end the season in a tie, the top seed for the CAC Tournament will be determined by a coin flip.