Box Score
NEWPORT NEWS,VA – Mike Green’s jumper with 1.4 seconds left in regulation, propelled Christopher Newport University to a, 71-70, victory over the York College men’s basketball team in the finals of the Captain Shootout Sunday evening.
With 1:02 left to play and York trailing by two, 69-67, Omari Phipps (Laurleton, NY/ St. John’s Prep.) hit a turn-around jumper in the lane to tie the game, drawing a foul in the process. Phipps then made the free throw to give York a 70-69 advantage. After York came up with a defensive stop on the ensuing Christopher Newport possession, the Cardinals had a chance to extend their lead after junior point guard Ryan Exum (Bronx, NY/ Truman) was fouled. Exum missed the front end of the one-and-one and the Captains grabbed the rebound setting up Green’s heroics in the final second of play. The Cardinals did manage to get a shot off with just one second left but it was off the mark and the game was over.
The Captains got off to a quick start, scoring the game’s first seven points and 19 of the first 25 to lead by 13 with 12:37 to play in the first half. The Cardinals mounted a run, however, and outscored CNU 26-13 over the final 11 minutes of the first half. Phipps converted a lay-up with 23 seconds remaining to give York a 35-33 lead at halftime. The second half was a see-saw battle with each team going back and forth most of the way until the very end.
For York, Nicholas Hamilton-Lopez (Woodside, NY/ Pfeiffer Univ.) followed up his 31-point performance from the day before with 27 points, setting a tournament scoring record of 58 points in the process. Marcel Esonwune (Lagos, Nigeria/ Marist Brothers) added his second double-double in as many days, netting 16 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Both were named to the All-Tournament Team for their efforts. Phipps also added a double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 boards.
Green, who was also named to the All-Tournament team, finished with a team-high 18 points to go along with eight boards. Thomas Winnett scored 13 points and had five boards and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
CNU improves to 7-5 with the win, while York falls to 3-11. The Cardinals will return to action on Wednesday when they host Medgar Evers College at 8:00 p.m.
