In a remarkably similar finish to last year's CAC Championship game, top-seeded Christopher Newport outlasted second-seeded Salisbury 68-67 in overtime to secure its first-ever CAC men's basketball title on Saturday in Newport News, Va. 

With the win, the Captains (26-1) earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Ranked No. 5 in the nation and No. 1 in the Middle Atlantic Region, CNU will find out its opponent and first-round site during Monday's NCAA selection show at 12:30 p.m.

The Captains will enter NCAA's riding a 17-game winning streak, and their 26 wins matches the CNU record for wins in a single season. CNU will be making its 20th trip to the NCAA Tournament, and the third since head coach John Krikorian took over the program.

The Sea Gulls (21-6), meanwhile, must wait until Monday to hope to receive an at-large bid into the postseason. Salisbury entered this week ranked No. 3 in the region and No. 23 in the country. 

Saturday's finish featured a bit of reverse deja vu from last year's title matchup between CNU and Salisbury, as CNU sophomore Aaron McFarland drilled a free throw with four-tenths (0.4) of a second left on the clock in overtime to propel the Captains to the one-point victory. In last year's title showdown, Salisbury hit a pair of free throws with one second left to give the Sea Gulls the dramatic win. 

It was a back-and-forth contest all afternoon at the Freeman Center, befitting of a championship showdown between the top two teams in the conference all season long. The contest featured 12 lead changes and nine ties throughout the 45 minutes of play. It was just the second overtime men's basketball title game, with other coming in 2012-13, when St. Mary's defeated Wesley 79-78. 

Four players reached double figures for CNU, led by a game-high 18 points from Kevin Regimbal, including four three-pointers and three steals. Tim Daly posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, Marcus Carter added 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, and McFarland tallied 13 points for the Captains. 

Adrien Straughn led the way for Salisbury with 16 points, four three-pointers and three boards, while Gordon Jeter notched 12 points and seven boards, and Justin May scored 11 off the bench.