Feb. 24, 2006

Halton Arena -

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The Game: The Charlotte 49ers (17-9; 10-3 Atlantic 10), winners of six straight A-10 games, host Saint Louis, Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in their annual "Senior Day". The 49ers will honor its five graduating seniors in a pre-game ceremony: Mitchell Baldwin, Marcus Bennett, Tripp Miller, Chris Nance and Curtis Withers. Charlotte is in second-place in the Atlantic 10, one game ahead of the third-place Billikens (15-10; 9-4). Charlotte can secure the #2 seed in the A-10 Tournament with a win over the Billikens, giving them at least a league runner-up finish in each of the last three years: 2004: C-USA Champs; 2005: C-USA Runner-Up.
Charlotte continues to be led by A-10 Player of the Year candidate Curtis Withers and a slew of long range sharpshooters. Withers leads the A-10 in rebounding (11.0) and double-doubles (14) while averaging a double-double of 15.5 points and 11.0 rebounds. He ranks 4th in the NCAA in rebounding. In A-10 play, he is averaging a double-double of 15.4 points and 11.5 rebounds. He posted one of the nation's six 20-20 games of the year with 23 points and 21 rebounds vs. Dayton. A two-time first team all-Conference USA choice, he could become only the third 49er in school history to garner three first-team all-league awards. His 42 career double-doubles are second all-time.
In the last two games, four 49ers: Marcus Bennett (29 points at Fordham), Leemire Goldwire (24 at UMass), De'Angelo Alexander (22 at UMass) and Withers (20 at UMass) scored over 20 points in a game. Bennett (7-of-10 3FG at Fordham), Goldwire (5-8 3FG at UMass) and Alexander (6-9 3FG at UMass) heated up from beyond the arc. In the two road wins, Charlotte hit 25-of-45 threes (.556).

Chairman of the Boards: All-America candidate Curtis Withers ranks 4th in the NCAA with 11.0 rebounds per game. He has grabbed double-digit boards 18 times and 14 or more rebounds 10 times. He averages 11.5 rebounds in league play with seven games of 14 or more rebounds. He has moved past 1998 Conference USA Player of the Year DeMarco Johnson into 3rd-place all-time with 967 career rebounds. His 11.0 rebounding average is the 49ers fourth-best all-time and the first in double-figures since Jarvis Lang pulled in 10.1 in 1993-94. He grabbed a career-high 21 boards vs. Dayton, the first 49er to grab 20 or more in 16 years (Cedric Ball, 22 vs. USF, 1/4/90). He is also the first to post a 20-20 game (23 pts; 21 rebs vs. Dayton) since Cedric Maxwell (twice, 1976-77). He is one of four active players in NCAA Div I. with over 1600 career points and 900 career rebounds (Craig Smith, BC; Shelden Williams, Duke; Kenny Adekele, Hartford)

The Long Rangers: Charlotte has always been known for its three-point shooters. In each of head coach Bobby Lutz's season at the helm, a 49er has led its conference in three-pointers made. This year, De'Angelo Alexander ranks 2nd in the league with 74 treys, one behind league leader Jermaine Anderson of Fordham. Alexander ranks third in the league with a .428 three-point pct.
While Alexander tops the team, the 49ers are equipped with other dangerous perimeter threats: notably Leemire Goldwire and Marcus Bennett. Goldwire is 4th in the A-10 with 66 three-pointers made na dhe's been the Niners leading scorer in four of the last five games, shooting .487 (20-41) from long range in those games, averaging 4.0 three made. Bennett (41-103; .398) erupted off the bench at Fordham, hitting 7-of-10 treys for a career-best 29 points. Alexander (2nd) and Goldwire (4th) both rank in the top five in the A-10 in three-pointers made while Alexander (3rd) and Bennett (7th) both rank in the top 10 in 3FG%.

REBOUNDING: Charlotte leads the A-10 with 38.3 rebounds per game and a +4.9 rebounding margin. It has outrebounded its opponent 17 times (nine by double-figures), including 10 of 13 A-10 games. Charlotte is 15-3 when it ties or wins the battle of the boards; 2-6 when it gets outrebounded. Curtis Withers leads the league and ranks 4th in the NCAA with 11.0 boards per game. The last 49er to average double-digit rebounds: Jarvis Lang, 10.1, 1993-94.

20/20/20 x 2: In its win at UMass, Saturday, three 49ers scored 20 or more points (Goldwire, 24; Alexander, 22; Withers 20). That's the 2nd time they've done that this year. Those three also scored 20 in the A-10 opener vs. Rhode Island.