Defense carries CNU to D-III quarterfinals

NCAA DIVISION III BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT 60, WILLIAMS COLLEGE 49

In a radio interview after his team stifled Williams College 60-49 Friday in the NCAA Division III round of 16 in Greensboro, North Carolina, Christopher Newport coach John Krikorian effusively praised his Captains.

“Defensively, these guys were awesome,” he said after CNU advanced to today’s 7:15 p.m. quarterfinal against the winner between Guilford, the host of the four-team group, and Keene State of New Hampshire. “It’s just remarkable.”

Defending champion CNU began the 64-team tournament ranked 23rd in the nation by d3hoops.com, while Williams was 21st, Guilford seventh and Keene State fifth.

Despite a height disadvantage, the Captains (24-6) had a 26-8 advantage in points in the paint against the Ephs (23-7) of Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Jahn Hines scored 14 points and Ian Anderson had 13 points and eight rebounds for CNU. Collin

Hines, battling an ankle injury, had nine points and seven rebounds, and Isaiah Dozier had nine points, five rebounds and four steals.

Williams scored eight unanswered points to go ahead 24-17, but CNU responded with nine consecutive for a 26-24 edge. A Ty Henderson basket at the 36-second mark put the Captains ahead 30-28 at the half.

CNU held the Ephs to 19.2% shooting (5 of 26) in the second half and 27.5% (14 of 51) for the game, going ahead to stay when Jahn Hines’ layup gave the Captains a 33-31 lead with 18:50 remaining.

The defense enabled CNU to survive its own less-than-stellar accuracy: 37.3% (19 of 51) from the field and 52.9% (18 of 34) on free throws.