NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Homestanding Christopher Newport University eliminated Shenandoah University from the 2010 USA South Conference men's basketball Tournament with an 82-69 semifinal round win Friday night at the Freeman Center.

Shenandoah (11-16) was seeking a third straight win over the Captains (14-12), but CNU earned its second straight finals round appearance by jumping out to an eight-point halftime lead and then holding SU without a field goal for better than a six-minute stretch midway through the second.

Christopher Newport earns a date with N.C. Wesleyan in Saturday's 4:30 championship contest. The two teams split during the regular season. For the Bishops, it was their only conference loss.

CNU advanced to the championship after breaking open a close game with a 12-5 run to end the first half.

SU had trailed by just one, 30-29, before Christopher Newport started this run with a Brian Hermann layup at 4:21 and ended it with a Conley Taylor 3-pointer seven seconds before halftime.

The Captains opened the second half with the first bucket of the period to take their first double-digit lead and held at least a five-point until lead until the Hornets put together a 6-2 run that was capped by a Brandon Bryan 3-pointer with 10:34 remaining.

Unfortunately for Shenandoah, Bryan's 3-pointer, his second of three on the night, was its last field goal until Mitch Dudley converted in a layup with 4:19 remaining.

Christopher Newport expanded its advantage out 11 points during this span, and the Captains did not let their lead slip below nine points the rest of the way.

Bryan led SU with 19 points while Kenny Robertson added 18. Dudley had 12 rebounds.

Mark Blasingame had 16 points and 10 boards for the victors.

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