
The disciplined Captains maintained their style of play from the opening tip, which kept the men from getting their transition game going. Seven minutes into the contest, CNU led 4-2.
Over the next few minutes, the Royals got running and took their first lead at 13-11 when Andrew Thorne (Front Royal, VA/Skyline) converted a three-point play with 9:30 left in the half. But Christopher Newport calmly answered with the next eight points to jump back in front. A 10-0 run put the lead in double digits, and CNU ended the half on a 25-9 streak to grab a 36-22 advantage.
An Adam Burroughs (Roanoke, VA/Northside) three pointer cut the deficit back to single digits at 38-29, but the Captains scored the next seven points and never looked back.
Eastern Mennonite shot just 27% from the floor in the loss. They entered the game with a 48% shooting clip and their previous season low was 36% in the 67-64 loss at Guilford on Nov. 28. The Royals were also only 3-for-16 from long range and 9-for-19 from the free throw line.
Thorne was his consistent self, as the senior connected for 18 points and seven rebounds. Owen Longacre (Telford, PA/Christopher Dock) had eight points and five rebounds, while R.J. Sims (Fort Washington, MD/Friendly) added seven boards and six points. Rashad Chambers (Covington, VA/Alleghany) had six rebounds.
The loss drops EMU to 7-4. The men close their first-half schedule at home against Mary Washington on Wednesday. Tip-off in Yoder Arena is an hour earlier than normal, going up at 6:00pm.