Feb 16, 2002

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Jobey Thomas scored a game-high 20 points, 17 in the first half, to lead Charlotte to an 81-57 Conference USA victory against DePaul on Saturday.

Thomas, Conference USA's all-time leader in 3-point goals with 323, made 5-of-12 attempts from beyond the arc to help the 49ers (16-8, 10-3) take a 75-44 lead.

Cam Stephens contributed 12 points and 13 rebounds for Charlotte, which won its second straight. Andre Brown and Quemont Greer had 12 each for DePaul (9-15, 2-10).

Jermaine Williams scored the game's first seven points, three more than his season average, as the 49ers streaked to a 17-4 lead with 13:59 left in the half.

DePaul narrowed the margin to 28-18 on Drake Diener's second 3-pointer of the game with 7:59 left, but an 8-0 Charlotte run - including a 3-pointer and a 3-point play from Thomas - left the 49ers with a 44-23 halftime lead.

"They're a very talented team," Blue Demons coach Pat Kennedy said of the 49ers. "They're talented enough to go to our conference tournament and challenge for the championship. They're lethal. The have a lot of guys who can make shots, and today they gave us an old-fashioned whipping."