The defeat, the fourth straight for Methodist, drops the Monarchs to 4-13 overall and 2-3 in the USA South.
The offensive output wasn’t there for Methodist, as the Monarchs shot only 32 percent from the field and only 58 percent from the free throw line. The glaring statistic was only six percent (1-for-16) from 3-point range for Methodist.
However, despite shooting only 29 percent from the field in the first half, the Monarchs kept the game close and trailed 27-24 at halftime. Methodist out-rebounded Christopher Newport 26-18 in the first half as forward Dragan Radmanovic scored nine points in the first half. It was tied three times in the first half.
Early in the second half, the two teams virtually matched each other basket-for-basket as Methodist trailed by only four points, 40-36 with 14:21 remaining. That’s when Christopher Newport broke it open with a 13-2 run over the next three minutes.
Jeremy Romeo started the rally with a 3-point basket at the 14:21 mark, and then Korey Lewis and Donta Seldon each scored on inside lay-ups for the Captains. Jahmar Claxton’s lay-up off an offensive rebound gave Christopher Newport a 53-38 lead with 11:38 remaining.
The Captains stretched the lead as much as 23 points, 73-50 on two Seldon free throws with four minutes remaining. In the second half alone, Christopher Newport shot a whopping 69 percent from the field, including 83 percent from 3-point range.
Eugene Grant scored 12 points to pace Methodist, while freshman forward Travis McBryde scored 10 points off the bench. For Christopher Newport (13-5, 4-1), Seldon and Romeo each scored 18 points, followed by Lewis with 12 points and Davon Barton added 10 points.
Methodist continues its weekend swing through Virginia with a 2 p.m. showdown at Shenandoah on Sunday.
CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT 81, METHODIST 63 METHODIST (4-13, 2-3) GRANT, Eugene 3-8 5-6 12; MCBRYDE, Travis 5-6 0-0 10; RADMANOVIC, Dragan 3-11 3-4 9; LEE, Robert 4-15 0-0 8; THOMAS, Seth 3-17 2-2 8; WILLIAMS,Brandon 2-5 2-2 6; MOORE, Craig 2-5 1-4 5; MCDONALD, Fred 1-5 0-1 2; MCEVOY, Michael 1-3 0-1 2; JONES, Marchise 0-0 1-2 1; SHUFORD, Antwin 0-0 0-2 0; LANE, Brian 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-75 14-24 63. CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT (13-5, 4-1) SELDEN, Donta 7-8 3-3 18; ROMEO, Jeremy 6-11 3-4 18; LEWIS, Korey 6-14 0-0 12; BARTON, Davon 4-8 1-1 10; CLAXTON, Jahmar 4-5 2-4 10; RILEY, Edward 3-5 2-3 8; BLASINGAME, Mark 1-4 0-0 2; BRANCH, Sean 0-0 2-2 2; MCSHEPARD, Billy 0-1 1-2 1; WITHAM, Mike 0-0 0-0 0; COLEMAN, Matt 0-0 0-0 0; KRAUT, Justin 0-0 0-0 0; PURDHAM, Adam 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-56 14-19 81. Methodist ............. 24 39 - 63 Christopher Newport........... 27 54 - 81 3-point goals-Methodist College 1-16 (GRANT, Eugene 1-4; RADMANOVIC, Dragan 0-2; LEE, Robert 0-4; THOMAS, Seth 0-2; WILLIAMS, Brandon 0-1; MCDONALD, Fred 0-2; MCEVOY, Michael 0-1), Christopher Newport 5-9 (ROMEO, Jeremy 3-5; BARTON, Davon 1-2; SELDEN, Donta 1-1; BLASINGAME, Mark 0-1). Fouled out--Methodist College-None, Christopher Newport-None. Rebounds-Methodist College 41 (RADMANOVIC, Dragan 7; THOMAS, Seth 7), Christopher Newport 41 (BLASINGAME, Mark 11). Assists-Methodist College 7 (GRANT, Eugene 2; WILLIAMS, Brandon 2; LEE, Robert 2), Christopher Newport 12 (BARTON, Davon 6). Total fouls-Methodist College 16, Christopher Newport 18. A-1682