The Lancaster Bible College men's basketball team has arrived in Newport News, Va. and is set to battle Christopher Newport in the opening round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The Chargers, winners of the North Eastern Athletic Conference for the second time in three seasons, will be making their second all-time appearance at The Big Dance, while Christopher Newport, which received an at-large bid, is making its third straight tournament appearance and 22^nd all-time.
 
Team Records:
Lancaster Bible: 23-5, 15-1 NEAC…North Eastern Athletic Conference Champion…Automatic bid
Christopher Newport: 21-6, 14-4 CAC…Runner-up in Capital Athletic Conference…At-large big
 
How They Got Here:
Lancaster Bible: Lancaster Bible defeated Morrisville State, 74-69 on Sunday at Horst Athletic Center to claim its second NEAC title in three seasons…The Chargers defeated Wilson in the NEAC Semifinals and Penn St. Abington in the NEAC Quarterfinals prior to beating the Mustangs in the Final.
 
Christopher Newport: The Captains lost to York (Pa.), 82-73 in the Capital Athletic Conference Final last Saturday in Newport News, Va....York (Pa.) led by nine at halftime, though Christopher Newport quickly erased the deficit early in the second half, and led midway through the second frame, before the Spartans regained the lead and pulled away late…The Captains defeated Mary Washington in the CAC Semifinals prior to the Final.
 
Key Games during 2017-18:
Lancaster Bible:
Nov. 17, 2017: vs. Bethany (W.Va.), W, 82-73…A day after losing to Alvernia, 72-62, the Chargers responded with a strong win over the Bison in the Consolation Game of the William Marshall Tip-Off Tournament at Franklin & Marshall.
Dec. 9, 2017: at St. Elizabeth, W, 75-66…The Chargers defeated the Eagles in Morristown, N.J., finishing the first semester with a 4-0 mark in NEAC play, and concluded a week where they won two road games at Gallaudet and St. Elizabeth, two of the tougher gyms to win in during conference play.
Jan. 3, 2018: vs. Juniata, L, 57-54…Lancaster Bible lost by three to then-23^rd ranked Juniata…The Chargers offense struggled all night, but still found a way to compete against a quality opponent that would eventually make its conference championship game…The Chargers used the loss to correct many aspects of the team's game, and it would be their final loss for the next 41 days.
Jan. 24, 2018: at Wilson, W, 76-75…The Chargers trailed by seven at halftime, and by as many as nine early in the second half, before mounting a rally to defeat the Phoenix, 76-75 in Chambersburg, Pa…Wilson lost just twice after turning the calendar to 2018, with both losses coming at the hands of the Chargers.
Feb. 17, 2018: vs. Bryn Athyn, W, 98-57…Three days after seeing their 11-game win streak come to an end, the Chargers throttled Bryn Athyn, 98-57 on Senior Day at Horst Athletic Center to finish the regular season with a 20-5 mark…Lancaster Bible scored 62 points in the second half, breaking open a game that was a nine-point contest at halftime.
Feb. 25, 2018: vs. Morrisville State, W, 74-69…In a game that went back-and-forth for 40 minutes, the Chargers grabbed the lead with just under 14 minutes to play and never relinquished it, as they held off the Mustangs for their second NEAC crown.
 
Christopher Newport:
Nov. 19, 2017: vs. Wilmington (Ohio), W, 82-64…The Captains captured the Frederick Holiday Classic at Hood College with a victory over the Quakers…Spencer Marin had 18 points in the win, while Aaron McFarland posted 17 points.
Dec. 30, 2017: vs. Johns Hopkins, W, 55-44…Christopher Newport won its second tournament of the season, as the Captains won their own tournament, the Crowne Plaza Captains Shootout over the Blue Jays…McFarland was named the tournament's MVP, after posting 30 points over two games.
Jan. 31, 2018: at Salisbury, W, 72-57…After losing to York (Pa.) on Jan. 13, the Captains finished January with five straight wins, including this victory over the Sea Gulls, in which Christopher Newport never trailed.
Feb. 17, 2018: vs. York (Pa.), W, 81-71…The Captains lost to York (Pa.) in the first matchup between the two teams, but defeated the Spartans by 10 in the team's regular season finale, and in the process earned the top spot in the CAC Tournament…McFarland had 21 points in the victory.

Information Hodge Podge:
Lancaster Bible: The Chargers lost in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament in their only other appearance, falling to Wooster, 96-83 in 2016…There are two players left from that team on this year's team, as seniors Bill Livezey and Herbie Brown are the first-ever Lancaster Bible players to play in two NCAA Division III Tournament games…Graduate Assistant Coach Nick Monroe, and Student-Assistant Coach Javon Cole, were also members of the 2016 team that went to the NCAA Division III Tournament…The Chargers have won 15 of their last 16 games, and have lost just twice since turning the calendar to 2018…Lancaster Bible is 8-1 in true road games this season, and 10-3 overall in games away from Horst Athletic Center…No Lancaster Bible team has ever played a team from Christopher Newport…Lancaster Bible is averaging 80.0 points per game this season, while the Captains give up just 65.2 points per contest.
 
Christopher Newport: The Captains advanced to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 a season ago, before falling to Keene State, 68-64…Christopher Newport also faced a NEAC opponent in last season's opening round, as the Captains crushed Morrisville State, 81-45, before defeating 25^th-ranked Swarthmore in the Round of 32…Christopher Newport is 10-4 at home in the Freeman Center this season…Friday will mark the Captains' first game against someone other than Mary Washington or York (Pa.) since Feb. 10, when Christopher Newport defeated Penn St. Harrisburg, 69-53…Since the 10^th, the Captains faced Mary Washington and York (Pa.) to end the regular season, and then again in the CAC Playoffs…Christopher Newport went to the NCAA Division III Final Four two seasons ago, and lost to 8^th-ranked Univ. of St. Thomas in the National Semifinals…The Captains hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III Tournament that season as well.
 
Lancaster Bible Season Statistics
 
Lancaster Bible 2017-18 Schedule
 
Christopher Newport Season Statistics
 
Christopher Newport 2017-18 Schedule
 
How to Watch: The game can followed two ways…The first is through LIVE STATS, provided by Christopher Newport, and the second is via LIVE VIDEO, which will also be broadcast by Christopher Newport, but will feature audio provided by Lancaster Bible College.