NEWPORT NEWS — Following an 11-day break for final exams, the Christopher Newport University men’s basketball squad returns to action Thursday and Friday. The 18th-ranked Captains travel to Queens University in Charlotte, N.C., for the Jay Bilas Classic. CNU opens play on Thursday vs. 11th-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point, with tip off set for 7:00 p.m. The Captains will then take on Elmhurst University on Friday, with start time scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
This marks the second time in the last three years the Captains have made the trip to Charlotte for the two-day classic, a project of the popular ESPN broadcaster and former Duke standout Jay Bilas. Two years ago during CNU’s National Championship season, the Captains won games over Elmhurst and the College of New Jersey in the first-ever classic.
John Krikorian‘s squad has a mark of 9-2 so far this season, and the Captains have won their last four games. CNU last saw action on Saturday, December 7th, when the Captains defeated Mary Baldwin University at the Freeman Center, 96-76. Fifth-year senior All-American Jahn Hines led the team in scoring for the seventh time this season by pouring in 21 points. Hines has now scored 1706 career points in 105 career games, and is just 30 points behind Antoine Sinclair for seventh place on CNU’s all-time scoring list. Three other Captains joined Hines in double figures in the Mary Baldwin victory, as sophomore Tyson Henderson netted 14, sophomore Ethan Ward tallied 13, and sophomore Toa Hollenbeck scored 12. Junior Collin Hines pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds and also scored nine points. Henderson dished out nine assists to go with his 14 points.
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is off to an 8-0 start to the season. The Pointers are ranked 11th in the country, and will be playing the Captains for the third time ever. CNU and UWSP have split the first two encounters. Elmhurst University is 4-5 entering the Classic, and the Blue Jays and Captains will be meeting for the second time. CNU registered an 82-74 victory over Elmhurst two years ago at the Jay Bilas Classic.
Christopher Newport games are broadcast live on the Home of the Captains, Xtra 99.1 FM and CNUsports.com. The pre-game show will begin at 6:40 p.m. Thursday night, and 4:40 on Friday afternoon. The games will be streamed live.
Following the Jay Bilas Classic, Christopher Newport will be off until Sunday, December 29th, when the Captains host Misericordia at 4:00 p.m. in the opening round of the Captains Shootout at the Freeman Center.
