BUENA VISTA, Va. - Christopher Newport University again blew open a close game in the second half to cruise to victory, beating Southern Virginia University Saturday afternoon, 81-58. The win was the sixth straight for the Captains, who improved to 7-2 on the season.

CNU's defense allowed just 19 points in the second half, and junior Toa Hollenbeck led the way in scoring with 20 points, and senior Collin Hines (11) and junior Ethan Ward (10) also reached double digits in the scoring column.

The Captains and Knights exchanged the lead three times in the opening half, and the teams were never separated by more than six points. CNU held a 41-39 lead at the intermission despite turning the ball over 13 times in the first 20 minutes of action.

Christopher Newport never trailed in the second half, and used a 15-2 run to stretch the lead with Hollenbeck, Hines, and junior Zyir Baskerville each scoring five points in the four minute rally. The Knights could get no closer than 11 points the rest of the way as the Captains cruised to the 23-point triumph.

"Credit to Southern Virginia, they played a really good first half and hit some big shots early in the game," Head Coach John Krikorian said following the road victory. "I thought the best thing we did was adjust in the second half and we were much more in tune with what needed to be done defensively. Our guys helped each other out a little more, we were more patient offensively and that was the difference."

CNU committed just four miscues in the second half, and played the first ten and a half minutes of the second stanza without a turnover. The Captains were also dominant on the glass, out-rebounding SVU, 44-29, with Ward and Baskerville each pulling down eight rebounds.

"Those are areas we've been working on and are very important to our success," Krikorian stressed. "We can't sabotage our good efforts with unforced errors, and we certainly improved in that area in the second half." 

Southern Virginia, a team that shot 50 percent from the field through their first six games, made just seven-of-28 (25 percent) in the second half, and finished the game 22-of-58 (38 percent) from the field. The Knights fell to 2-5 with the loss.

The Captains now have a ten day break for final exams, and will return to action on Tuesday, December 16, vs. Virginia Wesleyan University at the Freeman Center. Tip off is set for 7:00 p.m.

"It's been a lot this week with a couple of road trips," Krikorian continued. "it's good to be past it with a couple of wins, and the break will be good for us. We'll do what needs to be done in the classroom and have a chance to get some rest and prepare for what's coming up."