GALLOWAY, N.J. - Christopher Newport University used an outstanding second half defensive effort to cruise past Stockton University, 77-57, Saturday afternoon in the Stockton Classic. The victory was the fifth straight for the Captains and 12th in the last 13 games, as John Krikorian's squad improved to 13-3 on the season. The Ospreys fell to 6-6 with their first home loss at the Sports Center on the Stockton campus in five games this season.

CNU held Stockton to just 23 points in the second half, and the Ospreys were able to make just seven-of-29 shots after halftime and just one three-pointer in 12 attempts. Junior Toa Hollenbeck led the Christopher Newport offensive effort, scoring 25 points while converting all ten of his free throw attempts.Junior big man Ethan Ward also reached double figures in scoring with 12 points, making all four of his shots from the field and all four from the line.

"If you want to win on the road, you have to defend, and I think today we defended just about as well as we have all year," Krikorian said following his 350th victory in 15 seasons as Head Coach of the Captains with just 81 defeats. "I thought our guys were really connected, we made 14 steals, and we were really impressive at the foul line (22 of 23). To do those things in a physical and gritty game like this was the difference."

The matinee saw the teams exchange the lead twice in the opening half and the game was even at the intermission, 34-34. The Captains scored the first six points of the second stanza, and never trailed again. With the Captains leading, 47-45, with 12:56 to play in the second half, junior Zyir Baskerville sank a three-pointer to spark a CNU 16-2 run to open the lead to 63-47. Baskerville scored seven points, all in the second half, and the Captains would go on to lead by as many as 22 points en route to the 20-point triumph.

"Zair was certainly the difference in the second half," Krikorian said. "A couple of plays stood out, including a great backdoor pass, and a couple of defensive stops he made really gave us a spark. In the second half, we tried to be just a little more controlled, reverse the ball a little more, and make a few extra passes. I think our guys got a really good view of what can happen when we're connected defensively. I think they were pleased with the result, so hopefully this is the beginning of another step forward for our team." 

Christopher Newport held the Ospreys to 31 percent shooting for the day (19 of 61) and forced 17 Stockton turnovers, scoring 26 points off those miscues. The Ospreys out-rebounded CNU, 41-33, with junior Isaiah Dozier leading the way for the Captains with eight boards. Dozier also topped the team with four steals, and junior Tyson Henderson dished out a team-high eight assists. 

Hollenbeck, who became the 35th player in CNU history to surpass 1,000 career points in Friday's victory over Rowan, scored his 25 points in 27 minutes of playing time, with 17 coming in the first half. 

Coming into Saturday's meeting, Stockton had won its last two games, and had scored more than 100 points in both wins. The Ospreys defeated Widener in the opening game of the classic on Friday, 106-64. The Captains, meanwhile, had defeated Rowan on Friday, 64-56.

The Captains return home on Wednesday to host Johns Hopkins University in a 6:00 p.m. start at the Freeman Center. Johns Hopkins, ranked 22nd in the country, is 9-2 after winning Saturday at home over Stevenson, 90-82. The Blue Jays have won three straight games and eight of their last nine.