Christopher Newport Tops Wooster in NCAA Men's Basketball Elite Eight; Captains Become 3rd CAC Team to Reach Final Four
For the third time in conference history, a CAC team will be competing in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Final Four as Christopher Newport advanced to the national semifinals with an 81-61 triumph over Wooster on Saturday night at Oswego State University's Max Ziel Gymnasium.
The Final Four appearance isthe first in the 49-year history of CNU men's basketball, and the first in the CAC since 2005. The two previous CAC teams to reach the Final Four were York in 2005 and Catholic in 2001. York finished fourth in 2005 and Catholic won the title in 2001.
The win marked the 21st straight for the Captains, who will head to Salem, Va. next weekend with a 30-1 record. The Captains will play St. Thomas of Minnesota Friday night at 7:30 in a national semi-final at the Salem Civic Center.
CNU never trailed in the Elite 8 matchup, jumped to an early 22-10 advantage, and eventually led by as many as 22 in the opening half, 36-14. The Fighting Scots were able to close the gap to 36-19 at halftime.
Wooster then cut the lead as close as six in the second stanza, 54-48, before the fourth-ranked Captains closed the game on a 27-13 run for the 20-point wire-to-wire triumph.
Sophomore Marcus Carter exploded for 16 of his 22 points in the second half, marking his second straight 22-point performance in Oswego. Carter also pulled down seven rebounds, and posted four blocks and three steals. Junior Tim Daly recorded his sixth double-double of the season, finishing with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Aaron McFarland added 11 points and junior Kevin Regimbal scored ten.
The Captains made 29 of 54 shots (.537) while holding Wooster to just 37 percent shooting for the night (20 of 54).
CNU is now 14-0 away from the Freeman Center this season, and will take on a St. Thomas squad that is ranked eighth in the country...and ousted the top team in the nation, Augustana, Saturday night. The Tommies are now 28-3 on the season, and will be appearing in the Final Four for the third time in the last six seasons.
Second-ranked Benedictine (31-0) will take on 15th ranked Amherst (26-5) in the other national semi-final Friday in Salem.
Christopher Newport was appearing in the Elite 8 Saturday night for just the second time in program history. The 2001 Captains were beaten in overtime by William Paterson (NJ) at the Freeman Center in CNU's only other appearance.
The Final Four trip comes in CNU's 20th all-time NCAA appearance. The Captains are now 15-20 all-time in NCAA games.