NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Plenty to celebrate on Thursday at Christopher Newport University. At the student union building, the men's basketball team was honored for the program's first ever national title.
"Having people wait outside when we got back, the whole celebration today man. Especially Division III, that's big time", said Captains guard Jahn Hines from Norview High School in Norfolk. "I appreciate this school so much and what its done for me."
The Captains finished their season strong in route to the championship. They wound up with a 30-3 record that included a 15 game winning streak. "It was amazing", said forward Trey Barber who hit the game winning shot in the title game over Mount Union. "This is bigger than us. The support we have is really amazing".
Since 1980, the school has 12 NCAA team championships. The most recent one coming from softball last season. "It's a crazy special time to be here", says head coach John Krikorian who's record at CNU is now 290-65 in 12 seasons. "To be a part of leaving a legacy and making an impact is really meaningful." There's also the matter of the unbeaten women's team who's also playing in their first national title game when they take on Transylvania University on April 1st.