CNU Men's Basketball Falls Short of Second National Title Appearance

Captains lose shooting touch in second half, ending season in NCAA Division III semifinals

Mar. 22, 2026 at 1:18am

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The Christopher Newport University men's basketball team saw its season come to an end in the NCAA Division III semifinals, falling 72-58 to Emory University. CNU, the 2023 national champions, led by nine points late in the first half but went cold from the field, making only 10 of their final 43 shots. Emory's Ben Pearce scored 21 points to lead the Eagles, who advanced to the national championship game for the first time in program history.

Why it matters

CNU was seeking its second national championship game appearance in four seasons, but the Captains' inability to maintain their first-half shooting touch proved costly against a tough Emory squad. The loss ends an impressive season for CNU, which won 25 games and reached the Final Four for the fourth time under head coach John Krikorian.

The details

Leading 35-26 late in the first half, the Captains went cold, making only 10 of their final 43 field goal attempts. Emory, which had lost to CNU earlier in the season, was able to rally and pull away in the second half. CNU was led by Toa Hollenbeck's 16 points, while Tyson Henderson and Ethan Ward also scored in double figures.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in the NCAA Division III semifinals in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
  • CNU led 35-32 at halftime, but was outscored 40-23 in the second half.

The players

John Krikorian

The head coach of the Christopher Newport University men's basketball team, leading the Captains to their fourth Final Four appearance in his 15 seasons.

Toa Hollenbeck

The leading scorer for CNU, pouring in 16 points in the semifinal loss.

Ben Pearce

The star player for Emory University, scoring a game-high 21 points to lead the Eagles to their first-ever national championship game appearance.

Collin Hines

A starter on CNU's 2023 national championship team, Hines is the lone senior on the Captains' roster.

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What they’re saying

“We did a lot of good things to put ourselves in position to advance, and it just wasn't meant to be today. For this group to be on our wall as a Final Four team is an incredible legacy for them.”

— John Krikorian, Head Coach, Christopher Newport University

“I gave it all I had and poured my heart into the program. I can live with that.”

— Collin Hines, Senior, Christopher Newport University

“We've lost three years in a row in heartbreaking ways, and I think this team is going to be dangerous next year. It's going to be a lot of fun.”

— Toa Hollenbeck, Junior, Christopher Newport University

What’s next

The Captains will look to regroup and make another run at the Division III national championship next season, with the majority of their roster set to return.

The takeaway

Despite the disappointing end to their season, the Christopher Newport University men's basketball team can be proud of their accomplishments, reaching the Final Four for the fourth time under Coach Krikorian and showing they have the talent to compete for a national title in the years to come.