ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Junior Toa Hollenbeck scored all 22 of his points in the second half and fellow junior Tyson Henderson led the way in scoring with 23 points Wednesday night as Christopher Newport University defeated North Carolina Wesleyan University, 78-69. The victory at Everett Gymnasium left the Captains with a 2-2 record, while the Battling Bishops fell to 3-2.

Christopher Newport led for much of the first half, and pushed the lead to a dozen, 31-19, before the Bishops scored the final four points of the opening stanza to cut the advantage to 31-23 at the intermission. North Carolina Wesleyan then continued to surge as the second half began, taking a lead of 36-35 thanks to a 17-5 run. North Carolina Wesleyan upped its advantage to six, 60-54, when the game took a dramatic turn.

Hollenbeck, suffering from a sprained ankle and questionable to play at all, took over by scoring eight straight points, six coming on two three-pointers, and sparking a 12-0 CNU run that put the Captains ahead to stay. Hollenbeck scored his 22 points in 22 minutes played and was five-for nine from the field for the night and also knocked down ten of 12 free throws. He added three rebounds and two steals 

"We had a pretty comfortable lead in the first half, and I thought we had them really where we wanted them defensively in the first half, " Head Coach John Krikorian said following the victory. " But they've got some players over there and really took it to us in the second half for a while. We fouled them a little too much, and they made some really tough shots to get the lead. For Toa to be able to do that, after being a game-time decision because of his ankle, was just a gutsy performance."

Henderson posted 12 points in the opening half and tallied 11 in the exciting second half. He filled the stat sheet with eight rebounds, two steals, two blocked shots and an assist. He made eight-of-12 shots and six-of seven at the foul line.

Christopher Newport was dominant on the glass, and out-rebounded NCWU by a margin of 49-28. Junior Ethan Ward led the Captains with 12 rebounds, and senior Collin Hines registered his first double-double of the season with 12 points and ten rebounds. Hines also recorded three assists and three steals.

"Our guys are doing a great job there on the glass, I'd just like us to finish a few more after getting those offensive rebounds," Krikorian continued. "When this lid comes off the basket for us, I think we have a chance to be really good. Hopefully this is the type of game that gives us a little confidence and we can build on it."

The Captains out-shot the Bishops by connecting on 44 percent of their shots (28 of 63) to 39 percent for the home team (22 of 56). 

The game was the 110th all-time meeting of the programs, and the Captains now hold a 71-39 lead,  Christopher Newport and North Carolina Wesleyan were longtime league-mates in the Dixie and USA South Athletic Conferences.

Christopher Newport returns to the Freeman Center to host Cairn University on Saturday afternoon. Tip off time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Cairn, located in Langhorne, Pa., is 4-1 this season and last year the Captains defeated the Highlanders in Langhorne, 94-72, in the first meeting ever of the programs.

"Cairn shoots the ball well from long range, and they've older with a lot of experienced players," Krikorian concluded. "We're going to enjoy this win for a little while, but we'll get back to work to get ready for them."