Senior Chris Nance and the 49ers return to Halton Arena, Tuesday night to face Georgia Southern in the NIT. |
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GAME NOTES: Charlotte Hosts Georgia Southern in NIT
March 13, 2006
Halton Arena -
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The Game: The Charlotte 49ers (18-12; 11-5 A-10 Runner-Up) will host Georgia Southern (20-9; 10-4 Southern Conference Regular-Season Champions) in the first round of the 2006 National Invitation Tournament (NIT), Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. (WFNA Radio, 1660: Matt Swierad and Lane Odom). This will be the 49ers ninth post-season appearance in the last 10 years and their fifth overall NIT appearance. Charlotte advanced to the NIT Finals in 1976 and also participated in 1989, 1994 and 2000. Charlotte owns an overall 3-4 record in NIT play. The 49ers hosted Connecticut in the 1989 NIT (L, 67-62) at the Charlotte Coliseum. This will be the first-ever post-season game played at Halton Arena. This is the 49ers seventh post-season bid in Bobby Lutz's eight years as head coach.
Charlotte continues to be led by first-team all-A-10 star Curtis Withers, who leads the league with 16 double-doubles, including nine in league play. Withers leads the A-10 in rebounding (11.0) and double-doubles (16) while averaging a double-double of 15.9 points and 11.0 rebounds. He ranks 8th in the NCAA in rebounding and with 1011 career rebounds is one of only three 49ers (Jarvis Lang; Cedric Maxwell) to reach 1000. Withers is currently ranked 8th all-time in scoring with 1710 points. 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 44 career double-doubles are second all-time.
ALL-ATLANTIC 10: All-America candidate Curtis Withers and junior leading scorer De'Angelo Alexander were both named first-team all-Atlantic 10. Withers easily leads the league with 16 double-doubles (9 in A-10 play) and averages a double-double of 15.9 points and a league-best 11.0 rebounds. Alexander paces the 49ers at 17.1 points per game and leads the A-10 with 90 three-pointers made while shooting .425 from long range. Guard Leemire Goldwire (13.6 ppg; 80 3FGM) was named honorable mention all-A-10 and to the league's all-academic team (3.0 GPA; Psychology).
Chairman of the Boards: All-America candidate Curtis Withers ranks 8th in the NCAA with 11.0 rebounds per game. He has grabbed double-digit boards 21 times and at least 14 rebounds 11 times, including 15 in the regular-season finale at #7/#6 George Washington. In league play, he averaged 11.3 rebounds with eight games of 14 or more rebounds. He moved past 1998 Conference USA Player of the Year DeMarco Johnson into 3rd-place all-time with 1011 career rebounds, the third 49er to reach 1000. 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 1700 career points and 1000 career rebounds (Craig Smith, BC; Shelden Williams, Duke; Kenny Adekele, Hartford)
The Long Rangers: Charlotte is 3rd in the A-10 with a .369 three-point field goal pct. and has always been known for its three-point shooters. In each of head coach Bobby Lutz's seasons at the helm, a 49er has led the conference in three-pointers made. This year, De'Angelo Alexander ranks 1st in the league with 90 treys. Alexander ranks third in the league with a .425 three-point pct. The 49ers are equipped with other dangerous perimeter threats, as well: notably Leemire Goldwire and Marcus Bennett. Goldwire is 3rd in the A-10 with 80 3FG made and he's shooting .436 (34-78) from long range in the last nine games. Bennett (47-123; .382) erupted off the bench at Fordham, hitting 7-of-10 treys for a career-best 29 points.
Stats: Niners are 8-2 when they commit more turnovers than their opponent. Really! And 9-10 when they commit fewer turnovers. ... Niners are 7-1 when they hold opponents under 40% FG ... Charlotte is 11-1 with a 40% 3FG% or better; 12-4 if it shoots 40% or better, overall.
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