NEWPORT NEWS — Almost a year ago to the day, Christopher Newport University’s run of five consecutive trips to the NCAA’s Sweet 16 came to an end. In the Captains’ very own Freeman Center, no less.
Back home again Saturday night, CNU began a new streak with a dominant 90-61 win over Washington & Jefferson College. The Captains (23-5) move on to the third round against Randolph-Macon next week, most likely in Ashland.
Of course, CNU’s ultimate goal is not simply making the Sweet 16. But after last season’s disappointment, it’s especially sweet.
“I thought about that,” said senior Collin Hines, who was all over the stat sheet with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. “I also thought about this being my last game in the Freeman Center, so it was a little bit emotional.
“We had some fire lit under us. We know what happened last year, and we didn’t want that to happen again. It definitely motivated me.”
There was no repeat of last year’s loss to Roanoke College, which went down to the buzzer. Saturday night’s 29-point margin was the Captains’ largest in a second-round game since 2019.
Toa Hollenbeck scored seven of his 18 points in an 86-second stretch of the second half that helped put the game away. Ethan Ward had 13 points and seven rebounds. Zyir Baskerville added seven boards.
And Tyson Henderson had five assists, three steals and one turnover in 30 minutes.
Washington & Jefferson’s omnipresent full-court press did force 16 turnovers, but the Captains often broke it for quick baskets. It doesn’t hurt having a guy like Hines, who in addition to being CNU’s leading rebounder is also one of its best ball-handlers.
“He’s one of the most elite passers and playmakers we’ve ever had,” CNU coach John Krikorian said. “When he has the ball in his hands, you feel good about just about anything they can throw at us.
“We had a few turnovers, but you know you’re going to have a few. They’re a tough pressing team. I thought we probably created more opportunities for ourselves than they did with their press, and it started with Collin.”
CNU took a 2-0 lead 22 seconds into the game and led the rest of the way. The Captains went ahead 25-14 with 9:39 remaining in the half, but six minutes later the lead had been trimmed to 29-28.
CNU closed the first half with a 14-4 run and began the second with a 17-3 spurt.
“We had made some careless fouls and turnovers in the stretch to allow them to get back in that game in the first half,” Krikorian said. “I thought we were able to settle down and get back our basics and take care of the ball.”
As it did in the previous night’s 75-62 win over The Stevens Institute of Technology, CNU owned the boards. The Captains outrebounded the Presidents 53-29 — 29-13 in the second half.
“That’s been a big emphasis for us in the tournament,” Hollenbeck said. “I think we’ve been crashing more than we have all season (and) we need to keep doing it.”
Twenty-four of CNU’s rebounds came on the offensive end and led to 23 second-chance points.
“It’s certainly helpful to have 24 more possessions,” Krikorian said. “But you can’t carry them with you. You’ve got to do it every night. And these guys have been taking that mindset and doing it every night.
“As you go further in this tournament, it gets harder and harder and harder because every team that advances is likely a very, very tough rebounding team with size. Tonight was great, but we’ll have to get ready to do it again.”