NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University won its fourth straight game to open the new season Saturday night, beating Wilson College (Pa.) in the Freeman Center opener, 86-69. Sophomore
Isaiah Dozier posted a double-double for CNU, scoring ten points and pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds to lead the way.
The Captains, ranked fifth in the country, took an early 6-5 advantage on a
Jahn Hines layup and never trailed the rest of the way. Hines, a three-time All-American, went on to score a game-high 20 points and the Captains would go up by as many as 24 en route to the 17-point triumph. Sophomore
Toa Hollenbeck also reached double figures, scoring 15 points as CNU began its 24th year of action in the Freeman Center.
"We were able to get out in transition and get some easy baskets, and that certainly helps us," Head Coach
John Krikorian said following the win. "We haven't been shooting the ball well around the perimeter, and that didn't improve tonight, but the numbers all look great...I just think it was a less than inspiring game for us in our home opener. Most importantly, we got the win against a team that came in here and gave us everything they had and hit some threes to keep it close most of the night."
Christopher Newport made just four of 17 shots from long range, but ended the night shooting 52 percent overall (34 of 66). The Captains dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Phoenix, 57-33. Behind Dozier's 14-rebound effort, sophomore guard
Tyson Henderson grabbed nine rebounds and also scored nine points and dished out seven assists.
The Captains led at the intermission, 43-32, and then scored 43 more points in the second half, out-scoring the Phoenix, 43-37 in the second stanza. CNU was plagued by 20 turnovers, leading to 21 of Wilson's points. Wilson, now 1-3 to start the season, was led by Gary Robertson's 18-point effort. It was just the second game ever of the two programs, and the Captains have now won both, winning last season in Chambersburg, Pa., 68-49.
Christopher Newport hosts Hampden-Sydney College Tuesday night at the Freeman Center. Tip off time is set for 7:00 p.m.
.
