Junior Mark Madison scored 20 points and freshman Greg Rowson netted 19 points to lead the way in the University of Mary Washington men's basketball upset victory over #18 Christopher Newport University, 69-61, on Saturday afternoon in Fredericksburg, VA. The Eagles improve to 9-4 overall, and 1-1 in the CAC.
The game got off to a slow start as both teams struggled to put the ball in the net. UMW's defense stifled the Captains as they didn't allow a single point in the first 8:18 of the game. The Eagles capitalized on the opportunity and they took a 7-0 lead in that time span. A Da'Shawn Cook jumper and a three-point play from Johnny Cronin gave UMW a 12-2 lead with 10:56 to play.
The Eagles extended their lead to 12, 20-8, on a Rowson layup with 7:21 remaining in the half. CNU went on a mini run and cut the lead to five, 24-19, but a three-pointer from Madison put UMW back up eight, 27-19, with just under three minutes to play. The Captains then scored seven straight to get within one, but Madison scooped home a layup with 38 seconds left to give UMW a 29-26 lead at the half.
Coming out of the half, CNU got on the board first as they scored on a free throw. Rowson nailed a three-pointer and then knocked down a jump shot to put UMW up four, 34-30 with 16:53 to play. The game then was back-and-forth as the two teams traded buckets but the Eagles managed to grow their lead to five, 42-37, after Drew Johnson made a three-pointer on an assist from Madison with 12:46 remaining.
After a two minute dry spell from both teams, Rowson got back on the board again making two free throws and giving the Eagles a 44-37 lead. CNU cut the lead to one, 47-46, on a made layup with 7:07 to play. UMW then used a 7-0 run to grow their lead to eight, 54-46, as Jacob Williams converted a three-point play and then Madison knocked down a jumper with just 3:47 left on the clock. CNU got within five, 59-54, with 1:06 to play and tried to prolong the game with free throws. The Eagles were clutch at the free throw line at the end of the game as they converted 10-12 over the last minute of the game to clinch the victory, 69-61.
Cronin established his dominance down low as he scored nine points and pulled down 15 rebounds, including six offensive. Johnson had eight points, six rebounds, and three blocks in his fourth game back, while Williams added six points, six rebounds, and seven assists to help secure the win.
UMW shot 23-60 (38.3%) from the field, 8-17 (47.1%) from three-point range, and 15-17 (88.2%) from the free throw line. The Eagles out-rebounded the Captains 38-34 and they dished out 12 assists.
The Eagles will be back in action Wednesday as they will host Salisbury at 8 p.m.