Box Score

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Averett's season came to an end with a 74-58 loss to top-seeded Christopher Newport University in the USA South Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday at the Crown Center.

Averett (9-17) struggled offensively for most of the game, especially at the start. Christopher Newport (19-5) grabbed 16-6 lead midway through the first half. Yet, Averett found its footing and closed the gap to 25-24 on senior Justin Pierce's jumper with 2:22 to play. The Captains answered with a 7-0 run to end the half and take a 32-24 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, the Cougars couldn't find the same rhythm that helped them make their first-half run. Averett had few answers for CNU big man Nik Biberaj, who finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds.

The Cougars did manage to keep CNU's Tra Benefield and Mike Cherry in check, although Benefield eventually broke out for a game-high 20 points with a flurry of scoring midway through the second half. He had just four points at halftime.

Pierce, who finished with a team-high 18 points and seven rebounds, finished his collegiate career as Averett's fourth all-time leading scorer, tallying 1,244 career points while being selected to the USA South All-Conference First Team in his final season in blue and gold.

Averett also got help off the bench from freshman Carter Jones, who totaled 11 points and six rebounds. Fellow freshman Trevor West used a solid second half to total a career-high 15 points to go with seven rebounds.

The loss to the Captains dropped Averett to 3-11 all-time against CNU in the conference tournament, snapping a two-game tournament winning streak against the Captains. This is CNU's final season as a member of the USA South Conference in basketball.

The Captains advance to Friday's semifinals, where they await the winner between Methodist University and N.C. Wesleyan College.

The loss capped a disappointing season in which Averett made strides before a season-ending injury to senior Marquis Scott, the team's second leading scorer and leading rebounder, helped derail the Cougars' potential.