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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A new era opens on Saturday night for the Christopher Newport University men's basketball team. The Captains host Penn State Altoona at the Freeman Center as Jarren Dyson begins his tenure as head coach. Tip off time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. for the opener of the 59th season of CNU men's hoops.

Dyson, who had two stints as an assistant coach at CNU, takes over a program that was 25-6 last season and advanced to the National Semifinals. CNU is picked second in the nation in the pre-season poll from D3hoops.com as the squad sees a return of 17 players and four starters from last season's team.

"I'm really excited, and the whole team is excited, to get this season started," Dyson said leading up to the opener. "We've been preparing for the new year and I can tell you this is a very competitive group, and I think the fans will be happy with what they see. This is a a hard-working and hungry team, they're always in the gym, always watching film...the pieces are certainly in place for a very special season."

Among those returning is guard Toa Hollenbeck, now a senior, who led the Captains in scoring last year with 18.9 points per game. Hollenbeck has been a first team All-Conference performer in each of his first three seasons, and is 15th on CNU's all-time scoring list with 1,336 points in his fist 90 games played. Hollenbeck is joined by three other starters from a year ago, Ethan Ward, Isaiah Dozier, and Tyson Henderson, who are all returning as seniors as well.

This will be the second meeting of the schools after they met to open the season last year in Altoona, Pa. Christopher Newport came away with an 86-67 victory to begin its journey to the Final Four.

Tickets can be purchased online by clicking the link below. Tickets will also be available for purchase starting at 6:00 p.m. Saturday at the Athletic Ticket Office in the Freeman Center, with cash or card accepted.
https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new//client.asp?ClientID=87

For fans who have already purchased tickets, Will Call will also open at 6:00 p.m. and is located right outside the entrance doors to the field house. If you are picking up tickets at Will Call, please remember to bring a photo ID.

Christopher Newport games are broadcast live on the Home of the Captains, Xtra 99.1 FM and CNUsports.com. The pre-game show Saturday will begin at 6:40 p.m. Links are provided at the top of this story to watch the game online, and also to view the live stats.

Following the opener, the Captains have a Top 10 showdown on Wednesday, November 11th, when CNU travels to Ashland, Va., to take on seventh-ranked Randolph-Macon in a 7:00 p.m. start.