GAME NOTES: Charlotte Hosts #18/#17 Cincinnati

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Lutz to Serve As ESPN Analyst for ASA Border Battle

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Sold Out Game to be Shown on ESPN

Feb. 5, 2005

Halton Arena -

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The News: The Charlotte 49ers (14-4; 5-2) host #18/#17 Cincinnati (17-4; 6-2), Saturday at 4:00 p.m. (TV: ESPN, Brent Musburger; Steve Lavin; Radio: WFNZ, 610 SportsRadio, Matt Swierad). Charlotte, which enjoyed a 9-game win streak (longest under 7th-year head coach Bobby Lutz) and matched the program's best start since 1991-92 (14-3, 1994-95), had dropped two of its last four, including a loss at Cincinnati. The 49ers are 1-2 in games against nationally-ranked foes, this year (W: at #25/#25 Marquette; L: 3ot vs. #22/#22 Alabama; at #20/#18 Cincinnati). Cincinnati is coming off a 77-70 loss at #9 Louisville, Wednesday night. Charlotte is 7-14 all-time against the Bearcats, but 4-4 at home. Lutz owns a 6-10 record vs. Cincinnati, including a 3-3 mark at Halton Arena. Lutz is 3-9 vs. a ranked Bearcat team; 1-3 at Halton Arena. Charlotte owns a five-game home unbeaten streak.

Notes: Charlotte has had six different players score at least 20 points in a game, this year, including four different players netting 20+ in the last three games (Basden 2; Withers, Drayton, Plavich).

20; 20; 20; 20; 20; 20: Six different 49ers have scored at least 20 points in game, including Brendan Plavich, who leads the team with five 20+ games (all on the road) and Eddie Basden who has netted 20+ in two of the last three games. Curtis Withers (3) and Leemire Goldwire, Mitchell Baldwin and E.J. Drayton have all scored 20 or more at least once this season. Eight different Niners (add Martin Iti and Chris Nance to above group) have scored at least 15 points in game and all eight have had at least two double-figure outings. Withers had 23 at ECU; both Basden (22) and Drayton (21) had 20+ nights against TCU and both Basden (23) and Plavich (20) posted 20+ games at #25/#25 Marquette. Basden leads the team with 16 games in double figures.

Basden is One of a Kind: "If the league ended today, he's probably the MVP." -- Cincinnati head coach Bob Huggins, of 49er senior Eddie Basden, prior to the 49ers game at Cincy.

Although C-USA is blessed with several versatile athletes (i.e. UL's Francisco Garcia; UAB's Donell Taylor; DePaul's Quemont Greer), senior Eddie Basden is the only one in the league that ranks in the Top 15 in scoring (14th - 14.6) and in rebounding (7th - 8.0), assists (12th - 3.4) and steals (1st - 3.1). And he shoots .511 (8th in C-USA) and .447 3FG%. He leads C-USA and ranks 5th in the NCAA with 56 steals. With 227 career steals, he is 2nd all-time in both C-USA history and in school history. The C-USA record is 231 (Cedric Smith, South Florida, 2001). School mark is 236 (Keith Williams, 1983-87).

Shooting the Lights Out: "Brendan I think is the best three-point shooter on the road in America." -- Bobby Lutz Senior Brendan Plavich has been shooting the lights out, in particular on the road. Plavich has scored 20 or more points five times this year -- and each game has come on the road (21 @ Valpo; 23 @ Davidson; 21 @ Indiana; 22 @ Cincinnati; 20 @ Marquette). He hit 7-of-9 threes at both Valpo and Davidson, nailed a game-winning halfcourt buzzer beater at Indiana and hit six treys at Cincinnati. In true road games, Plavich averages 20.5 points with a .507 3FG% (36-71), averaging 6.0 threes. In his four-year career Plavich has 299 career threes (165 @ Cha.; 134 @ Vandy)

LUTZ WINS #300: Head coach Bobby Lutz picked up his 300th career victory in the 49ers 80-65 win over Georgia State, Dec. 11. Lutz posted a 181-91 record in 9 years at Pfeiffer and is 128-79 in his seventh year with the 49ers. His career record now stands at 309-170 (.645).

Home at Halton (89-22, .802): Now in their ninth year in Halton Arena, the 49ers have won at least 10 home games in all but one season. This year, Charlotte is 7-2 with wins in the last five home games. The 49ers have also advanced to post-season play in seven of the eight years. Charlotte played its 100th game in Halton Arena against South Florida, Feb. 18 (W, 84-72). The 49ers were 10-3 at home last year. Overall the Niners boast a 89-22 (.802) record in eight-plus years at Halton Arena.