CNU Wins 2010 Holiday Inn Captains Shootout With 79-70 Victory Over Wesley
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport University improved to 7-4 this season as they won the 2010 Holiday Inn Captains Shootout with a 79-70 victory over Wesley College (5-5) tonight. CNU sophomore Paul Meredith tied the tournament record for assists in a game with 10, as he led CNU past the Wolverines for the second time this season.
Rookie Tra Benefield came out firing to get the Captains on top early, scoring the first 10 points of the game for CNU. Tournament MVP Conley Taylor and All-Tournament Team honoree Mike Green would also start off hot for the Captains, helping build the lead to as many as 15 in the first half (40-25 with 3:10 remaining). The three Captain starters would combine for 40 of the 41 first half points for CNU, shooting an impressive 62.5% from the field combined.
In the second half, Wesley tried to chip into the lead, getting it as close as seven three times in the second half, but the Captains controlled the ball and used good passing to get past the Wolverines. Wesley managed just four assists on 22 made baskets, while the Captains dished out 16 on 25 good buckets, led by Meredith's 10, tying Blake Brookman for best in the 14-year history of the tournament.
Benefield continued to lead the way for CNU, scoring a game-high 28 points and adding 11 rebounds for a double-double. Taylor had 21 points with six rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals, while Green finished out the game with 16 points, six rebounds and two assists. The three players went 23-of-42 from the field (.548) and combined for 65 of the Captains 79 total points.
Paul Reynolds led the way for Wesley, with a double-double on 5-of-12 shooting. Reynolds scored 17 points and 17 rebounds, while adding a block and three steals for the Wolverines. Three more Wesley players were in double-figures, as Chris Douglas and Darrell Johnson each had 15, while Rudy Thomas posted 13.
Conley Taylor also set a new Captains Shootout record for free-throws made, knocking down 19 free-throws in the two games for CNU. The previous record was 15 by Jeffrey Turner (St. Mary's) in the 2005 tournament.
Taylor and Green were joined on the All-Tournament Team by Reynolds, Frostburg State's Brian Anderson and Bridgewater State's Nicholas Motta.
Christopher Newport will be back in action next Wednesday, opening conference play with a game against Shenandoah University in the Freeman Center. In a double-header with the women's team, the men will tip off at approximately 7:30 pm.
