NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Washington and Lee shot just 29.2 percent (7-24) from the floor in the second half as the Generals men's basketball team fell to Christopher Newport, 76-66, in the championship game of the CNU/Point Plaza Invitational on Sunday afternoon at the Freeman Center.

After shooting 41.2 percent (14-34) in carrying a 37-36 lead into the halftime break, W&L (4-2) went cold in the second half, missing its first four shots from the field and falling behind 42-37 just 2:51 into the final period.

Despite the chilly start to the second half, the Generals kept it a single-digit contest and trailed by just three points (58-55) when junior guard Kelton Buchanan (Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove) split a pair of free throws with 8:54 remaining in the game.  However, W&L again went cold over the next 5:02, missing its next five shots from the field as the Captains (4-2) used a 12-3 run to assume a 12-point lead (70-58) with 3:52 left in the game.  The Generals managed just two field goals the rest of the way as Christopher Newport claimed the 10-point victory.

Washington and Lee was led by junior guard Jeremy Adkins (Huntington, W.Va./Spring Valley) and first-year guard Javon McDonald (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg), who each scored 18 points.  For McDonald, the point total was a career-high.  Junior forward J.D. Ey (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) added five points, a game-high 12 rebounds, four blocks, two steals and two assists.

Senior guard Conley Taylor led Christopher Newport with a game-high 24 points.  Sophomore guard Tra Benefield tallied 14 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Luc Atangana posted 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.  First-year forward Nik Biberaj contributed 11 points and eight boards. 

Washington and Lee returns to action on Wednesday as it hosts Roanoke College for a 7:00 pm contest.

-- GENERALS --