Eddie Basden (16 points) scored in double figures for the seventh straight game and the ninth time in the last 10 games as Charlotte won at Southern Miss. |
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Charlotte Picks Up 78-72 Win At Southern Miss
Feb. 21, 2004
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Five 49ers scored in double figures as Charlotte posted a 78-72 road victory at Southern Miss to move into a three-way tie for second-place in Conference USA. The 49ers improved to 17-6; 9-3 in Conference USA. The league leader will be determined by tonight's game between UAB and Memphis, who both own 9-2 records. The winner will improve to 10-2 and take a one-game lead over the loser, Charlotte and Cincinnati, who will all be tied at 9-3.
Curtis Withers and Eddie Basden both scored 16 points to lead the 49ers attack while Brendan Plavich and Calvin Clemmons added 14 and Demon Brown scored 11. It was the third game in the last six that the 49ers have had five different players score in double figures. In fact in five of the last six games, at least four 49ers have scored in double figures.
Charlotte led 38-29 at the half, thanks to .522 shooting from the field. Withers (9), Basden (8) and Clemmons (8) combined for 25 points and Demon Brown hit a pair of threes to push the 49ers in front.
Charlotte increased the lead to 16, 54-38, with 14:08 to play but Southern Miss (12-11; 5-7) raced back, using a 10-0 run to get within six, 54-48 and ultimately to within three, 62-59 with 6:41 to play.
Back-to-back technical fouls on Golden Eagle Charles Gaines and the USM bench allowed Plavich to knock down four straight free throws and push the lead back to a more comfortable seven-point edge, 66-59 at 6:21. Southern Miss would get to within three with 3:38 left but a dunk by Clemmons, free throw by Withers and short jumper from Withers gave Charlotte an eight-point lead, 74-66 with 2:14 left. Southern Miss scored the next six points on a pair of three-pointers to make it a two-point game, 74-72 with :24 seconds left but Plavich knocked down a pair of free throws at :17 and after a Southern Miss miss, Demon Brown iced the win with a breakaway layup.
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The win improved the 49ers record to 7-2 in road games decided by six points or less as Charlotte hit 10-of-13 free throws in the final 6:30. Charlotte is 9-3 overall in games decided by six points or less and the 49ers own an 8-4 record in road games, this year.
Charlotte will play at TCU, Wednesday night.
