Christopher Newport's remarkable journey came to a close Friday night at the Salem Civic Center, as the fourth-ranked Captains had a 21-game winning streak snapped by St. Thomas (Minn.) in the NCAA national semifinals.

CNU lost for only the second time all season, and for the first time in the calendar year 2016, with a 66-62 setback that ends the Captains season at 30-2. 

The game marked the first Final Four appearance in the 49-year history of CNU men's basketball and the third in CAC history. St. Thomas advances to play undefeated Benedictine (Ill.) for the national title Saturday night at 6 p.m. 

The Captains got off to a slow start, falling behind 7-0 and missing the first nine three-point attempts of the night. CNU stormed back to eventually tie the game at 19-19 on a layup from senior Tim Daly with 5:16 left, and then grabbed its first lead of the night at 22-19 thanks to a three-pointer from senio Huner Wetherell with 4:38 to play in the half.

Christopher Newport held a 25-23 advantage following a driving layup from junior Rayshard Brown with 2:29 to play, and then the Tommies took over. St. Thomas scored the final ten points of the half to open a 33-25 advantage at the intermission, and never relinquished the lead. The Captains missed their final two shots of the half and turned the ball over twice as St. Thomas created the halftime edge.

The second half saw the Captains chip away at the lead, only to have the Tommies hold them off time and time again. CNU got as close as four points five different times in the second stanza, including when junior Kevin Regimabal hit a three-pointer on the final buzzer for the 66-62 final verdict.

The Captains were led by sophomore Aaron McFarland's 16 points. Junior Tim Daly registered a double-double with 15 points and ten rebounds, his seventh double-double of the season.

St. Thomas, now 29-3, was led by junior Grant Shaeffer's 19 points. Senior Taylor Montero posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.