LANGHORNE, Pa. — After a sluggish start Monday afternoon, Christopher Newport University surged in the second half to beat Cairn University, 94-72. The Captains, ranked 15th in the country this week, trailed the entire first half before out-scoring the Highlanders, 58-30, in the second half en route to the 22-point triumph at Mason Activity Center.
Fifth-year senior All-American Jahn Hines led the way with a 30-point performance, and in the process moved into third place on CNU’s all-time scoring list. Sophomores Toa Hollenbeck (25) and Ethan Ward (13) also reached double figures. Junior Collin Hines recorded his third double-double of the season by scoring ten points and pulling down ten rebounds, and also dished out six assists.
Jahn Hines, who made ten of 15 shots and four of five from long range, passed both Marcus Carter and James Boykins on the all-time scoring list. He has now tallied 1,856 points in 113 career games, and is now 121 points behind Steve Artis for second place on the list. Hines, a three-time All-American, scored 21 of his 30 points Monday in the second half.
“All the credit in the world to Cairn in the first half,” Head Coach John Krikorian said. “They hit some really tough shots and shared the ball well. They had us on our heels, and we were really tentative through the first half. I think in the second half it was really important for us to get off to a good start, and once we did that it carried us through.”
The Captains, now 15-4, trailed by a 42-36 margin at the intermission after shooting just 38 percent from the floor. They took their first lead of the game, 49-48, on a layup from Hollenbeck with 15:43 to play. It came during a 15-0 run by CNU that saw them go from being behind, 48-40, to holding a 55-48 advantage. The Captains scorched the nets after halftime, making 22 of 32 shots for 69 percent as they cruised to the 22-point victory.
“No one is going to give it to you, you have to take it,” Krikorian continued. “We came out in the second half and really executed well at both ends of the floor. Jahn and Toa were both clicking in the second half, and when both of those guys are on, it makes a big difference. Collin was terrific in the second half as well and played extended minutes and really was a factor at both ends of the court.”
Christopher Newport was out-rebounded in the first half, 18-15, but the Captains finished with a 35-31 edge on the glass.
Cairn, now 9-8 on the year, was led by a 20-point effort from graduate student Josiah Hardy, a transfer from Hampden-Sydney College. The Highlanders also got a double digit scoring performance from Jaylon Simpson (13) and Averett transfer Corey Baldwin registered 12 points and 12 rebounds in the first-ever meeting of the schools.
Christopher Newport completes a stretch of four straight road contests on Sunday when the Captains travel to Misenheimer, N.C., to take on Pfeiffer University. The game with the Falcons is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. tip off.
