FARMVILLE, Va. - Christopher Newport University built a 19-point second half lead Tuesday night, and then had to hang on to beat the Tigers of Hampden-Sydney College, 79-74. John Krikorian's squad, ranked 12th in the nation this week, improved to 8-2 on the season, while Hampden-Sydney fell for the first time this season and is now 6-1. 

Senior Jason Aigner led the way for the Captains with 25 points, 19 in the opening half, and drained seven three-pointers on 12 attempts from long range. Sophomore Jahn Hines recorded a double-double with 19 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Junior Jake Latta came off the bench to score ten points, and senior Darian Peterson registered eight points and pulled down ten rebounds.

"We had some really good moments, and some really good efforts," Krikorian said following his team's fifth straight victory. "Obviously there were also some things we need to focus on as we move forward. Right now, it's all about improvement game-to-game and getting better as a team."

Hampden-Sydney jumped to a 7-0 lead to start the proceedings before the Captains answered with a 26-6 run to grab a 26-13 lead.  Junior Devon Parrish suffered a knee injury late in the first half following a Hampden-Sydney 12-6 run that cut the Captains lead to seven, 32-25. Parrish was not able to return to the game, although the Captains rallied to take an 11-point lead at the intermission, 39-28.

Christopher Newport then opened the second half by stretching its advantage to the biggest of the night, 50-31, with 14:40 to play. Again, the Tigers would not go away quietly, as Hampden-Sydney rallied to cut the lead as close as three at two different points down the stretch. CNU freshman Tyler Henderson converted five of his last six free throw attempts in the game's final 42 seconds, and Peterson connected on two free throws as well, as the Captains held on for five-point triumph.

Hampden-Sydney's D.J. Wright drained five three-pointers to account for his team-high 15 points. Jake Hahn (13), Adam Brazil (12) and Davidson Hubbard (11) also reached double figures for the Tigers, who had been averaging 86 points per game over their first six games of the season.

The Captains held a commanding edge on the boards for the night, out-rebounding the Tigers, 48-30. CNU has out-rebounded its opponent in all eight victories this season, while being out-rebounded in both losses. CNU's defense held Hampden-Sydney to just 32 percent shooting in the opening half (11 of 34) and 40 percent shooting for the game (27 of 68). The Captains were hurt by 20 turnovers that led to 16 Hampden-Sydney points. 

Aigner's 25-point effort gives him 1,225 career points in 101 games as a Captain. He moved past Brandon Jones into 20th on the all-time scoring list, and is now 17 points behind Carlos Heard for 19th on the list.

The game at Fleet Gymnasium at Kirby Field House was the first with the Tigers since the 1997 NCAA Tournament, when the Captains won in Farmville by the exact same score, 79-74. It marked the first meeting of the schools in the regular season since 1988. CNU now holds an 8-5 edge in the all-time series.

Christopher Newport returns home to host the Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan Friday night at the Freeman Center. Tipoff time is set for 7:00 p.m. The Captains are in the midst of a stretch that will see them play five games in a nine-day span.