SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Fourth-ranked Christopher Newport University broke open a close game in the second half Saturday afternoon and coasted to victory, beating host school Susquehanna University, 81-57. The victory, the fourth straight for CNU to open the season, captured the title of the National Beef Susquehanna Tip-off Tournament.

Junior Trey Barber came off the bench for the first time this season, and led the way with 15 points, one of four Captains to reach double digits. Junior All-American Jahn Hines scored 13 points in the victory over the River Hawks and tallied 39 over the two-day tourney to receive the Most Outstanding Player award. Fifth-year senior Matt Brodie contributed ten points Saturday after scoring 20 in Friday's overtime victory over Washington and Lee, and was selected to the All-Tournament team.

"I think our depth had a lot to do with the way the game went," Head Coach John Krikorian said. "Susquehanna played really hard and exerted a lot of energy. We had a number of individuals contribute and I think we were able to wear them down a bit. We got a lot of sparks from guys off our bench and that helped us get the lead and pull away."

The first half Saturday saw the Captains and River Hawks engage in a tight battle that was never separated by more than six points. SU grabbed the lead at halftime, 37-35, marking the first time this year CNU has trailed at the intermission. The second half proved to be a much different story, as the Captains broke open the close battle. After the game was tied 41-41, Christopher Newport went on to out-score the Hawks, 40-16, to coast to the 24-point triumph.

CNU had a dozen players get into the scoring column, and ten different Captains posted points in the second half, with Hines scoring nine of his 13 after the break. Christopher Newport made 17 of 29 shots in the second half (59 percent) after shooting just 42 percent (13 of 31) in the opening half. Joining Barber, Hines, and Brodie in double figures was senior Ian Anderson, who scored ten points in just 15 minutes of action. Barber and senior Rodney Graves led the Captains with seven rebounds each as Christopher Newport out-rebounded Susquehanna for the day, 39-24.

Susquehanna senior Quincy Haughton led all scorers with 22 points, but managed only four points, all on free throws, in the second half. Haughton also netted 22 points in Friday's first-round win over Lebanon Valley. Senior Howie Rankine, Jr., who led the way with 33 points on Friday, was held to 11 points by the CNU defense as Susquehanna made just 19 of 50 total shots (38 percent). 

The victory over Susquehanna, now 2-2, was the second for the Captains in just over eight months, as CNU posted an 81-67 win at the Freeman Center on March 5th in the NCAA Tournament. The two games are the only times the schools have ever met in men's basketball. Washington and Lee defeated Lebanon Valley, 72-68, in the third-place game that opened the day at Houts Gymnasium.

The Captains return to action on Tuesday night at home, hosting the Monarchs of Methodist University. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Freeman Center.