Junior RaShad Coleman has averaged 14.5 points and shot 76% from two-point range while scoring in double figures in each of the last four games. |
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GAME NOTES: Charlotte Opens A-10 Play At Duquesne, Wednesday
Jan. 6, 2009
Pittsburgh, Pa. -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Atlantic 10 Opener
Charlotte 49ers (5-7; 0-0) at Duquesne (9-4; 0-0)
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009; 7:00 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Palumbo Center (5,358)
Radio: WFNA 1660 (Matt Swierad)
Charlotte49ers.com Audio: Niner Network All-Access
Last Year: Charlotte W, 89-82 at Charlotte
Leemire Goldwire scored 21 to lead four 49ers in double figures. Lamont Mack added 19, Charlie Coley scored a career-high 16 and Ian Andersen added 13. Goldwire had five steals and Coley 3 of Charlotte's 12 thefts.
Series:
Charlotte leads 5-1 and is 3-0 since joining the A-10. The 49ers are 2-1 in Pittsburgh. Each of the last three wins were decided by less than 10 pts.
RPI:
Charlotte 191; Duquesne 129
A-10 Preseason Pick:
Charlotte 5; Duquesne 12
Of note:
The 49ers are 2-1 in A-10 openers and 1-2 in the first A-10 road game of the year ... Charlotte started A-10 play 2-0 last year, but lost at UMass in their first A-10 road game ...The 49ers lone loss to Duquesne came in the 1994 NIT ...
Injury update:
Charles Dewhurst, out (knee); An'Juan Wilderness, doubtful (foot)
The Coach:
Bobby Lutz, Charlotte (all-time winningest coach)
Career: 374-224 (20th year)
at Charlotte: 193-133 (11th year)
THE GAME:
The Charlotte 49ers (5-7) travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take on Duquesne (9-4) in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams. Charlotte has won four of its last five games, but will be without sophomore Charles Dewhurst and likely without sophomore An'Juan Wilderness. Wilderness (doubtful) has been sidelined with a stress fracture in his left foot for the last two games and is not expected to return until Saturday vs. Tulsa. Dewhurst (out), who replaced Wilderness in the starting lineup, suffered a dislocated knee vs. Maryland, Saturday and is out for the season. He will have surgery Friday for both a torn MCL and torn ACL.
WHO'S HOT:
RaShad Coleman has scored in double figures in each of the last four games with a career-best 21 at Maryland. He is averaging 14.5 points and shooting .548 from the floor and .400 from long range over the last four games. DiJuan Harris has scored in double digits in each of the last four and five of the last six games. He is averaging 14.8 points and 7.3 assists over the last four games, while shooting .548 from the field and .545 from the three-point range. Over the last three games, Charlie Coley is averaging 11.7 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting .593 (16-of-27).
HARRIS TAKING THE LEAD:
For the second straight year, DiJuan Harris is atop the Atlantic 10 in A-TO ratio, keyed by a recent 10 assist, 0 turnover outing vs. Long Island. But Harris has morphed into more than a pure pass first point guard. He has scored in double figures in five of the last six games and each of the last four. He scored a career-high 20 points vs. Youngstown State, notched his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 assists vs. Long Island and added 15 points with six assists and just one turnover at Maryland. In the last two games, he has scored 14.0 points with 16 assists and one turnover.
LAST GAME:
The 49ers raced to an early 18-7 lead and still held a three-point edge at halftime, but Maryland's 16-0 run in the second half carried the Terrapins to an 85-75 win. The run immediately followed a severe knee injury to 49ers sophomore Charles Dewhurst that left the 49ers reeling. Dewhurst, who had six points and four boards, landed awkwardly after his driving layup tied the score. RaShad Coleman led Charlotte with a career-best 21 points and DiJuan Harris added 15 to mark his fourth straight game in double figures. The loss snapped the 49ers four-game win streak.
LOOKING AHEAD - LUTZ'S 600th Career Game:
The 49ers return home to face Tulsa, Jan. 10 (4 p.m.) in non-conference action. The Tulsa game will be the 600th game of Bobby Lutz's 20-year coaching career: He owns a .625 career winning percentage (overall coaching record: 374-224). Tulsa, which won the inaugural College Basketball Invitational post season tournament in 2008 is the 8th non-conference opponent that competed in the 2008 post-season.
OPENING A-10 PLAY:
Lutz owns a 27-21all-time coaching record (.563) in A-10 play.
BALANCE:
Four 49ers are averaging in double figures, five 49ers have scored 15 or more points three times or more, six have led the 49ers in scoring at least once and eight have scored in double figures at least once.
Men of steal:
Charlotte is averaging 17.5 forced turnovers and 7.4 steals with at least six steals in all but two games. The 49ers have forced more turnovers than the opponent in eight games. Senior Charlie Coley leads the 49ers with 22 steals (1.8 game) while DiJuan Harris has 21 (1.8/game). Sophomore Charles Dewhurst has 12 steals (1.0/game) giving Charlotte three players with at least one steal per game. Last year, Charlotte had 271 steals (7.97/gm) and forced 574 turnovers (16.9/gm), the most in both categories since 1991, when the 49ers set school records with 363 steals and 649 turnovers forced.
CENTURY MARK:
On Gaby Ngoundjo's first points of the season, Charlotte scored 100 points in its 100-80 victory over Youngstown State, the first time in four years that the 49ers have reached triple digits and the first time in four years that six players scored in double figures in the same game. Charlotte shot .612 from the floor.
The last time Charlotte scored 100 points: Dec. 4, 2004 - L, 101-103 (3 OT) vs. #22 Alabama. The last time they scored 100 in a win: Dec. 6, 2003 - W, 105-102 (2 OT) at Old Dominion.
The last time they scored 100 in regulation: Nov. 24, 2003 - W, 102-39 vs. NC A&T.
The last time six 49ers scored in double-figures: Nov. 19, 2004 vs. Long Beach State; W, 93-64.
The last time Charlotte shot 60%: Nov. 24, 2001 at Long Beach State; W, 100-81 (.667; 38-57)
BENCHED:
The bench is averaging 23.9 points and a player has come off the bench to score in double figures in eight games. The 49ers bench has scored 20 or more points in nine games this year, with three games of 30 or more: 33 vs. Clemson, 32 vs. Youngstown State and 30 vs. Cal-State Fullerton. Sixth-man Ian Andersen has come off the bench to score in double figures a team-high five times, including a game-high 18 in the win over Southern Illinois and a 21-point effort vs. Clemson. Last year, the 49ers bench averaged 18.7 points.
Opp 49ers Opp Hi UNCG 24 27 11, Phil Jones ODU 20 13 10, Ian Andersen @ App. State 21 18 7, Javarris Barnett Clemson 33 22 21, Ian Andersen Arizona State 27 20 14, RaShad Coleman Providence 28 24 19, RaShad Coleman Cal State Full. 30 29 15, Ian Andersen, 12, Phil Jones Southern Ill. 28 22 18, Ian Andersen Miss. State 15 24 9, Phil Jones Youngstown 32 52 13, Phil Jones; 11, Ian Andersen Long Island* 13 15 9, Ian Andersen Maryland* 16 21 6, Ian Andersen; Javarris Barnett Total 287 (23.9) 287 (23.9) * 49ers were without starter An'Juan Wilderness (stress fracture)
DOUBLE-DOUBLES:
DiJuan Harris notched his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 assists vs. Long Island, giving Charlotte three double-doubles, this year. Charlie Coley scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds vs. Youngstown State to post his first double-double of the season. Lamont Mack posted the 49ers first double-double of the year and the first of his career with 18 points and 10 rebounds against UNC Greensboro. The 49ers had five double-doubles, last year: 2 by Charlie Coley and Charles Dewhurst; one by Leemire Goldwire.
Double-Up:
The 49ers have had at least four double-figure scorers in seven games, including a high of six players in double digits vs. Youngstown State. That is the first time that six players scored in double figures in one game since 2004 when six Niners hit double-digits in the season-opener vs. Long Beach State.
CLOSE CALLS:
Six of the 49ers games have been decided by six points or less. Charlotte is 2-4 in those games. A seventh game (Cal State Fullerton) went to overtime, leaving Charlotte 2-5 in close contests. Charlotte has lost four games by either one point or in overtime.
BALANCE:
Five 49ers have scored 15 or more points in at least three games:
4, Ian Andersen (21, vs. Clemson, 18 at SIU, 15 at App. State and vs. Cal-State Fullerton)
3, Lamont Mack (19 at Mississippi State; 18 vs. UNC Greensboro; 15 vs. LIU)
3, An'Juan Wilderness (17 at App. State and Southern Illinois, 15 vs. UNC Greensboro)
3, DiJuan Harris (20 vs. Youngstown State, 15 vs. Cal State Fullerton; 15 at Maryland)
3, RaShad Coleman (21 at Maryland; 19 vs. Providence, 16 vs. Youngstown State)
The 49ers have had six different leading scorers:
3, Ian Andersen, Lamont Mack, RaShad Coleman
2, DiJuan Harris
1, An'Juan Wilderness, Charlie Coley
The 49ers have had eight different players score in double figures:
9, Lamont Mack
7, RaShad Coleman, DiJuan Harris
6, Ian Andersen
5, An'Juan Wilderness
4, Phil Jones
3, Charlie Coley, III
1, Charles Dewhurst
IA THE RIDDLE: (Not AI, The Answer):
Junior shooter Ian Andersen has scored 15 or more points in a team-high four games. He leads the Niners with 36 three-pointers made (3.0/gm) and is shooting .409 from long-range. He hit 14-of-30 threes (.467) during the 49ers recent four-game win streak. He's hit at least one three-pointer in every game. He hit a career high 7 treys (7-of-11) vs. Clemson, on his way to a career-best 21-point effort and nailed 6 second half threes in the Niners comeback win at Southern Illinois. He hit 4 vs. Cal State Fullerton. He now has 122 career three-pointers made, 17 shy of the 49ers all-time Top 10. He has come off the bench to score in double figures five times.
THE DISH ON DIJUAN:
Junior point guard DiJuan Harris leads the 49ers with a 5.9 assist average. He has passed out double-digit assists three times: 10 vs. Long Island; 10 vs. Clemson; 10 vs. Providence. He is the first 49er to reach double figures in assists since Feb. 21, 2007 (Carlos Williams, 10 at Duquesne). Harris, who led the A-10 in Assist-to-Turnover ratio, last year, owns a league-best 2.84 A-TO ratio this year. Harris' current assist average is the highest by a 49er since 1998, when Sean Colson set the school record with an 8.0 assist average.
COLEY ACES BOARDS:
Senior Charlie Coley, who notched his first double-double of the year with a season-high 13 points and a season-high 13 rebounds vs. Youngstown State, grabbed 11 rebounds in back-to-back games vs. Clemson and #14 Arizona State. His career-high is 17, in the 2008 A-10 quarterfinal victory over UMass, and tied for 3rd-most all-time in A-10 Tournament history. Coley leads the 49ers with a 6.7 rebounding average.
JONES' BLOCK PARTY:
Junior center Phil Jones leads the 49ers with 24 blocks (2.0/gm). He had a career-high six blocks vs. Old Dominion and added four blocks vs. Providence and Southern Illinois. Senior Charlie Coley crashed the block party with 3 blocks vs. SIU and he and Jones teammed up to record seven of the Niners' season-high 8 blocks vs. the Salukis. Jones is shooting .547 from the field and has shot 50% or better in eight games. He's also hitting 85% of his free throws in averaging a career-best 8.2 points.
COLEMAN'S CLIMB:
Junior RaShad Coleman led the 49ers with a 14.0 scoring average in ESPN's 76 Classic in Anaheim. During the three-game event, Coleman shot 52% from the floor and 35% (6-of-17) from three-point range. In the last eight games, Coleman is averaging 13.3 points while shooting 50% from the floor (42-of-84). He scored a career-best 21 at Maryland and had 19 points vs. Providence. He also led the 49ers with 14 points vs. #14 Arizona State. Overall, this year he is shooting .644 from two-point range (38-of-59).
20-20:
Junior shooter Ian Andersen became the first Niner to score 20 or more points in 2008-09 when he netted a career-high 21 points vs Clemson. Andersen hit a career-high seven three-pointers (7-of-11) on his way to his first career 20-point night. Junior DiJuan Harris joined him in the 20-Point Club with a career-high 20-point effort vs. Youngstown State on perfect 5-5 shooting. Junior RaShad Coleman notched his first-ever 20-point game with 21 points (8-11FG) at Maryland.
Last year, Lamont Mack scored 20+ points three times -- with all three coming in the final 11 games. He netted a game-high 20 points at Fordham (8-of-12 FG; 3-5 3FG), add a career-best 27 points (5-8 3FG) at Richmond and scored 23 vs. UMass in the A-10 Tournament.
An'Juan Wilderness scored a career-high 21 points last year vs. Wake Forest (9-13 FG) for his lone 20-point game.
2nd Half Turnarounds:
Charlotte is 2-5 when trailing or tied at the half, this year. They were 9-9 when trailing at the half in 2007-08.
Close Calls:
Charlotte is 2-4 in games decided by seven points or less. Last year, 23 of Charlotte's 34 games were decided by seven points or less (13-10); 13 by 4 points or less (7-6).
RETURNING STARS:
Charlotte returns four starters and seven players who averaged double-digit minutes, last season. Returning starters include senior forwards Lamont Mack and Charlie Coley. Mack is the 49ers leading returning scorer and a preseason 2nd-team all-A-10 choice. Coley was the 49ers leader in rebounds, blocks and dunks. Junior point guard DiJuan Harris, who led the 49ers in assists and led the A-10 in assist-to-turnover ratio is back as the starting point guard and sophomore wing An'Juan Wilderness returns after being named to the A-10's all-Rookie Team.
PRESEASON NOTES:
Charlotte was picked to finish 5th in the Atlantic 10 Conference in a preseason poll of the leagues coaches and media. Charlotte was picked to finish third by both The Sporting News and Athlon Sports preseason publications; sixth by Lindy's publication. Senior forward Lamont Mack, the 49ers leading returning scorer, was named a preseason second team all-Atlantic 10 selection.
MACK EARNS PRESEASON NOD:
Charlotte 49ers senior forward Lamont Mack was named to the preseason all-Atlantic 10 second team. Mack is the 49ers top returning scorer. He averaged 12.8 points and 5.1 rebounds, last season. His numbers improved in the seasson's second half. He averaged 15.6 points in Atlantic 10 games and scored 15 or more points in 11 of the final 17 games. Mack shot .411 from long range in A-10 games.
Niners COMING OFF 20-WIN SEASON; POST-SEASON APPEARANCE:
Charlotte is coming off Lutz's fifth 20-win season with the 49ers. Charlotte went 20-14, last year, placing tied for fourth in the A-10, and advancing to the NIT, the 8th postseason appearance in Lutz's 10 years. Lutz, who became the 49ers all-time winningest coach, last year, also holds school records for 20-win seasons (5), NCAA Tourney berths (5) and postseason trips (8).
LUTZ ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH:
With 193 wins as the 49ers head coach, Bobby Lutz passed Jeff Mullins as the 49ers all-time winningest coach. Jeff Mullins, a former Duke all-America who won a gold medal on the 1964 US Olympic team before a stellar NBA career (1976 World Championship, Golden State Warriors), posted a 182-142 record in 11 years (1986-96). Lutz, in his 11th season, owns a 192-133 record. Record-breaking win #183 came 81-64 at home against Saint Louis, Feb 23.
LUTZ PROVIDES A DECADE of 49er PRIDE:
Charlotte has been to post-season play in eight of Bobby Lutz's 10 seasons, including a school-record five NCAA Tournament appearances. In the last five years, Charlotte has posted one first-place, two second-place and a 4th-place league finish (2004 C-USA Champs; 2005 C-USA Runner-up; 2006 A-10 Runner-up, 2008 A-10 4th-Place). He passed Jeff Mullins' as the 49ers all-time winningest coach, last year, with his 183rd victory as 49ers head coach. He now has 193 wins. In his 11th season, he has matched Mullins for the longest tenure of a 49ers head coach.
MADNESS:
Senior high flyer Charlie Coley won the 49ers annual Slam Dunk Contest at Basketball Madness. In Coley's first dunk, he jumped over DiJuan Harris as Harris pedalled away on a stationary bike. For his second dunk he initially brought out 5-11 guard Kyle Church before sending him back and pulling out 6-10 center Phil Jones. Coley then jumped over Jones while he dunked. His third dunk came on a bounce pass from the upper concourse of Halton Arena from Harris.
STRONG SLATE:
The 49ers schedule includes at least 17 games against teams that reached the postseason, last year. Nine of those games will be played in Halton Arena. Nine non-conference opponents: Old Dominion, Clemson, Arizona State, Cal-State Fullerton, Southern Illinois, Mississippi State, Maryland, Tulsa and Winthrop participated in post-season tournaments in 2008-09.
NATIONAL TV:
Eight of the 49ers games will be on national television via ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or CBS College Sports (CBS C). All three games at the 76 Classic in Anaheim, Nov. 27-30 will be broadcast on either ESPN2 or ESPNU. The 49ers home game with Xavier (Feb. 19) will be broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN2 and the home date with Richmond was moved to Mar. 3 so that it can be broadcast nationally by CBS College Sports.
Oh, Canada:
Over the Labor Day Weekend, the 49ers took a four-day; three-game trip to Canada, where they got an early glimpse of the 2008-09 edition of men's basketball. The 49ers went 3-0, outscoring their three foes by an average of 49.0 points. Charlotte averaged 106.7 points in the three games while forcing an average of 24.3 turnovers with 14.3 steals per game. Three different players led the 49ers in scoring in the three games (Ian Andersen with 18 in 109-55 win over Sheridan College; Shamarr Bowden with 21 in a 123-59 victory over York University and Charlie Coley with 15 in an 88-59 win over University of Toronto.). Eight different 49ers scored in double figures at least once. Junior RaShad Coleman did not play on the trip due to injury. Freshman Shamarr Bowden, the 49ers leading scorer over the three-game tour, has since injured his knee and will redshirt the season.
RECRUITING COUPS:
The 49ers announced the signing of Top 100 recruit Chris Braswell, Nov. 13 and K.J. Sherrill, Nov. 17. Braswell, a 6-8; 235 lb. power forward out of Seat Pleasant, Md., attends Hargrave Military Academy. He averaged 16.7 points and 12.0 rebounds as Hargrave went 29-0, last season. He is ranked 58th in the nation by Dave Telep's scouthoops.com and 78th by Rivals.com. Clark Francis of hoopscooponline.com tabs Braswell as the 10th-best fifth-year player in the country. Rivals.com has Braswell as the A-10 top power forward commitment and one of the A-10's Top 5 recruits. Sherrill, 6-7; 220 lb. forward, from Mount Ulla, N.C., was a second team all-Charlotte Observer selection as a junior, averaged 18.4 points as West Rowan went 21-7 and reached the sectional final. Sherrill, a cousin of former NC State player Scooter Sherrill, was named to the NCPreps 3A all-state team and was also named first team all-Piedmont Region for West Rowan head coach Mike Gurley.
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