ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Fifth-year senior All-American Jahn Hines erupted for 31 points Sunday afternoon, leading the fifth-ranked Captains to an 85-77 victory over North Carolina Wesleyan University in the Roger Taylor Invitational at Everett Gymnasium.
Hines scored 19 of his game-high 31 in the second half as the Captains improved to 2-0 to start the season. He made 11 of 17 shots and filled the stat sheet with a team-high nine rebounds and also dished out four assists. Sophomores Toa Hollenbeck (13 points) and Jason Ofcarcik (10 points) also reached double digits for the Captains.
“As we expected, this was a great battle today and a huge win in a great environment,” Head Coach John Krikorian said. “The athleticism and toughness on display in this game by both teams was off the charts.”
NCWU enjoyed an early ten-point lead, 15-5, five minutes into the opening half. CNU then bounced back with an 11-0 run to get the lead for the first time. Junior Collin Hines’ dunk midway through the first half gave CNU an 18-17 edge and the Bishops would not gain the lead back again. Christopher Newport eventually opened a seven-point lead at halftime, 44-37. The Captains then out-scored the Bishops in the second half, 41-40, with CNU’s biggest lead of a dozen points, 80-68, coming with just under two minutes to play.
The Captains were out-rebounded by the Bishops, 45-43, but shot just under 50 percent for the game (32 of 65) and made 17 of 27 shots at the charity stripe (63 percent). NCWU is now 1-1 to start the season, and the Bishops were led by a 27-point performance from Marquis Eskew. The early season battle in front of 195 fans included only 21 total turnovers (11 by CNU and ten by the Bishops).
Jahn Hines scored 44 points in the two games in Rocky Mount in the Roger Taylor Invitational, and has moved into tenth place on CNU’s all-time scoring list. Hines has 1,553 career points, just 55 points behind Davon Barton for ninth place all-time.
Sunday’s game was the 109th meeting of the programs, and the Captains now hold a 70-39 edge in the all-time series with the Bishops.
Next up for the Captains is the 91st meeting all-time with Virginia Wesleyan University. CNU will travel to Virginia Beach to play the Marlins on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Batten Center. The Captains hold a 52-38 edge in the long-running series, which dates back to January of 1968, but the Marlins have won the last two and three of the last four meetings. Christopher Newport will open at home on Saturday, hosting Wilson College (Pa.) at the Freeman Center. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Freeman Center.
