WINCHESTER, Va. - Christopher Newport used a stellar defensive performance Wednesday evening to take a 72-46 victory over host Shenandoah in both school's Dixie Conference opener. 

CNU (10-2, 1-0) shook off the effects of a 0 for 5 start from the field to take an 10-8 lead with 11:17 to play in the first and never looked back. 

After SU (7-3, 0-1) and the Captains had traded the lead six times and tied each other once in the first nine minutes of the game, CNU silenced the Shingleton Gymnasium capacity crowd by going on a 26-15 run to finish the first 20 minutes of play.

Unfortunately for the home crowd, Coach Rob Harris' Hornets could not significantly cut into this 11-point halftime deficit. SU was able to get no closer than seven points the rest of the way as the Captains eventually extended the lead to the final, 26-point margin.

Neither team shot extremely well in the contest; Christopher Newport was 23 for 59 (39.0 percent) while the Hornets shot a Harris era low 15 for 57 (26.3 percent). 

The 46 points scored by Shenandoah is the lowest output ever for an SU team against a Division III opponent. The all-time low is 40 points scored against Georgetown University on December 10, 1988. 

Junior Halston Camp (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) was the only SU player in double figures. He had 10 points while senior Michael Atkins (Winchester, Va./Sherando) pulled down a game high 12 rebounds.

Carlos Heard had 15 for CNU while Jermaine Woods and Otho Hampton chipping in 12 and 10, respectively. 

A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/mb/200203/011503.htm 

Shenandoah takes to the road starting Saturday with a 2:00 game at Averett University.