SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - It wasn't easy for Christopher Newport University Saturday night, but the ninth-ranked Captains withstood come-from-behind efforts from the University of California-Santa Cruz to capture its 14th straight victory, 66-56. The win at Kaiser-Permanente Arena improved the Captains record to 17-2, and was the second in as many nights over the host Banana Slugs. Sophomore Trey Barber led the way, recording his third straight double-double and fifth of the season with 20 points and ten rebounds. Sophomore Jahn Hines also reached double figures with 11 points as the Captains completed their first trip to California in program history.

Christopher Newport never trailed in the two victories in Santa Cruz, but found it difficult Saturday night to pull away as they did Friday in an 85-62 triumph over UC Santa Cruz. CNU held a 25-16 halftime edge, and eventually led by as many as 16 late in the second half. The Banana Slugs stayed close in the late-going thanks to 23 second half points from Tyler Kessinger, who finished with a game-high 26 points.

"I expected this kind of challenge, and I'm proud of the way we reacted as a team," Head Coach John Krikorian said. "Playing for the second straight night, we knew they would make adjustments and I thought overall we did a good job defending them. Anytime you hold a team to just 56 points, you've got a good opportunity to win. We made enough plays down the stretch to get the job done." 

UC Santa Cruz, now 2-15, cut the Captains lead as close as five points in the second stanza, 47-42, before Christopher Newport used a 9-0 run to push the lead to 56-42. The Slugs responded with a 14-6 run of their own to slice CNU's advantage to six, 62-56, before the Captains closed out the victory with the final four points of the game.

Barber scored six of his points in the opening half before leading the Captains in the second half with 14. CNU out-rebounded the Slugs, 41-31, with Barber leading the way with ten followed by Hines and seniors Darian Peterson and Adrian Beasley with seven boards each. CNU held UC Santa Cruz to just 39 percent shooting for the night (22 of 57), while the Captains made 25 of 54 shots (46 percent).

Fifth-year senior Jason Aigner was held to five points with just one field goal, but it was a big one that helped enable CNU to hold off the Slugs. With the Captains leading by just five with nine minutes to go, Aigner went into back-court to recover a loose ball and banked a 55-foot three-pointer from just beyond half-court as the shot clock was about to expire. The triple was one of just five on the night for CNU.

Saturday's game at Kaiser-Permanente Arena was played without fans in attendance due to CoVID protocols. The loss was the 11th straight for the Banana Slugs.

Christopher Newport returns to Virginia on Sunday, and begins preparations for its next game on Wednesday at William Peace University in Raleigh, N.C. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. against the Pacers.