Christopher Newport Beats Mount Union for First D-III Title
Christopher Newport University’s basketball team has made history by winning its first-ever national championship title in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Captains defeated Mount Union in a thrilling game that went down to the wire.
Trey Barber’s last-second basket helped Christopher Newport secure a 74-72 victory over their opponents.
The win is a remarkable achievement for the team, which had never before appeared in a national championship game.
The Captains trailed by as much as 14 points in the first half but refused to give up.
With just under 10 minutes remaining, they rallied to tie the game at 49.
Caleb Fur and Ty Henderson played crucial roles in the comeback, with Fur sinking a crucial basket to put the Captains up by four points with just under six minutes left on the clock.
Mount Union made a late run to take a one-point lead with just 18 seconds remaining, but Henderson took the ball coast-to-coast to put the Captains back in front.
Mount Union tied the game up with just five seconds left on the clock, but Barber’s heroics ensured that Christopher Newport emerged victorious.
Barber led the team with 25 points and was named the MVP of the final four.
Speaking after the game, he was speechless.
Head coach John Krakorian was proud of his team’s fighting spirit and praised Barber’s decisive contribution.
He also spoke of the unique feeling of winning a national championship and the camaraderie of the team.
The victory is a moment of joy for the university and the Newport News community.
The team’s success comes at a time when the community has been grappling with the aftermath of the events at Richneck Elementary School.
The win is a much-needed boost for morale and gives people a reason to celebrate.
