NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Host Christopher Newport University kept its perfect USA South Conference men's basketball record intact Wednesday evening with a 77-58 victory over Shenandoah University.

CNU (13-3, 5-0 USA South) led for all but seven seconds over Shenandoah (4-14, 2-3) in the penultimate USA South Conference men's basketball matchup between the two schools.

After having played 56 lifetime meetings, the vast majority as conference foes, this conference series will cease to exist after this season as the Hornets join the ODAC for the 2012-13 season.

The Captains dominated throughout Wednesday's contest, outrebounding SU 54-26 and scoring 16 second-chance points to the Hornets zero.

Christopher Newport first extended its lead into double digits on a Nik Biberaj jumper at 11:45 and took a 35-28 lead into the halftime lockerroom.

Shenandoah did cut the deficit to four points on two occasions late in the first, the last with 5:58 to play, thanks to a 9-2 Hornets run from the 8:05 to 5:58 marks.

SU would close it to four points one more time, at 16:53 of the second, before CNU went on a 12-4 tun to take a 49-35 lead with 12:35 remaining.

Shenandoah would get no closer than 13 points the rest of the way.

Avery Green and Bryce Mitchell led the Hornets with 14 points each while Xavier Alston had 13 and James Bowens 10.

Conley Taylor had a game-high 20 for the victors.

SU travels to N.C. Wesleyan on Sunday for a 4:00 USA South Conference contest.

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