DiJuan Harris, who scored a career-high 20 points vs. Youngstown State, is averaging 12.5 points and shooting 64% over the last four games. |
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GAME NOTES: Charlotte Hosts Long Island Tuesday at 7:30
Dec. 29, 2008
Halton Arena -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
GAME #11
Charlotte 49ers (4-6) vs. Long Island (4-6)
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008; 7:30 p.m. ET
Charlotte, N.C.
Halton Arena (9,105)
Radio: WFNA 1660 (Matt Swierad)
Charlotte49ers.com Video: Niner Network All-Access
The Coach:
Bobby Lutz, Charlotte
Career: 373-223 (20th year)
at Charlotte: 192-132 (11th year)
(Note: 49ers all-time winningest coach)
Notes: Charlotte defeated Long Island 83-63 in the series only meeting, Jan. 24, 1974 in the 49ers' Mine Shaft (Belk Gymasium). Long Island has won two of its last three games but is 1-5 on the road this season. The 49ers are 2-2 in home games. Sophomore An'Juan Wilderness will miss approximately two weeks with a stress fracture in his left foot.
THE GAME:
The Charlotte 49ers (4-6), winners of their last three games, host Long Island University (4-6), Tuesday. Charlotte cruised past Youngstown State, 100-80 after posting road wins at Mississippi State (W, 70-64) and Southern Illinois (W, 66-64). Charlotte's 100-point explosion was their highest scoring game in four years. The last time Charlotte hit triple digits: Dec. 4, 2004 vs. #22 Alabama (L, 101-103 in 3OT). Six 49ers scored in double figures against Youngstown State, the first time that has happened in four years (Nov. 19, 2004 vs. Long Beach State; W, 93-64). They shot .612 from the floor, the first time they have shot over 60% in seven years -- since a 100-81 win at Long Beach State, Nov. 24, 2001 (.667; 38-57). The other two wins in the three-game streak came on the road: The two-point win at SIU was just seventh home loss for the Salukis since 2001. At Mississippi State, where the Bulldogs were 5-0 in home games, the 49ers led by as many as 24 with 7:14 to play and were still up by 12 with 15 seconds left in rolling to that win.
LOOKING BACK:
DiJuan Harris scored a career-high 20 points and Charlie Coley notched a 13-point; 13-rebound double-double as Charlotte rolled past Youngstown State, 100-80. It was the first time since 2004 that the 49ers had scored 100 points and the first time since 2004 that six players had scored in double figures. RaShad Coleman scored 16 points and Phil Jones had 13 while Lamont Mack and Ian Andersen scored 11 points.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Charlotte travels to Maryland, Jan. 3 before beginning A-10 play, Dec. 7 at Duquesne. The 49ers still have two other non-conference games remaining: vs. Tulsa, Dec. 10; vs. Winthrop, Dec. 31.
BALANCE:
Four 49ers are averaging in double figures, five 49ers have scored 15 or more points at least twice, six have led the 49ers in scoring at least once and seven have scored in double figures at least twice. Six 49ers are averaging between 9.0 and 12.0 points and five are averaging in double figures in the current three-game win streak.
BENCH:
The bench is averaging 25.8 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, including highs of 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.
Men of steal:
Charlotte is averaging 18.1 forced turnovers and 7.9 steals with at least six steals in each game. The 49ers have forced more turnovers than the opponent in seven games. Senior Charlie Coley leads the 49ers with 21 steals (2.1 game) while DiJuan Harris has 19 (1.9 game). Sophomore Charles Dewhurst has 10 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.
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.
If the 49ers reach 100 vs. Long Island it would be the first time the Niners have had back-to-back 100-point games since three straight wins in December of 1990: W, 108-100 at Clemson (Dec. 15); W, 110-103 vs. West Virginia (Dec. 21 @ Winthrop), W, 117-109 vs. Navy (Dec. 28 @ Blue Angels Classic, Pensacola, Fla.).
BENCHED:
The 49ers bench has scored 20 or more points in eight games this year with three games of 30 or more: 33 vs. Clemson, 32 vs. Youngstown and 30 vs. Cal-State Fullerton. The bench is averaging 25.8 points. A 49er has come off the bench to score in double-figures in eight games, including Ian Andersen's 21-point effort vs. Clemson and 18 point shootout at SIU. Andersen has scored 10 or more points off the bench five times. 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 Total 258 (25.8) 251 (25.1)
DOUBLE-DOUBLES:
Charlie Coley scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds vs. Youngstown State to post his first and the 49ers' second double-double of the season. Lamont Mack posted the 49ers first double-double of the year with 18 points and 10 rebounds against UNC Greensboro -- the first of his career. 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 six games, including a high of six players in double digits vs. Youngstown State. That is the first time that has happened 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 two games:
4, Ian Andersen (21, vs. Clemson, 18 at SIU, 15 at App. State and vs. Cal-State Fullerton)
3, An'Juan Wilderness (17 at App. State and Southern Illinois, 15 vs. UNC Greensboro)
2, DiJuan Harris (20 vs. Youngstown State, 15 vs. Cal State Fullerton)
2, Lamont Mack (19 at Mississippi State; 18 vs. UNC Greensboro)
2, RaShad Coleman (19 vs. Providence, 16 vs. Youngstown State)
The 49ers have had six different leading scorers:
3, Ian Andersen
2, RaShad Coleman, Lamont Mack, DiJuan Harris
1, An'Juan Wilderness, Charlie Coley.
The 49ers have had seven different players score in double figures in at least two games:
8, Lamont Mack
6, Ian Andersen
5, An'Juan Wilderness, RaShad Coleman, DiJuan Harris
4, Phil Jones
2, Charlie Coley, III
IA THE ANSWER:
Junior shooter Ian Andersen has scored 15 or more points in a team-high four games. He leads the Niners with 31 three-pointers made (3.1/gm) and is shooting .413 from long-range. He has hit 11-of-21 threes (.524) during the 49ers three-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 117 career three-pointers made. 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 5.5 assist average. He has passed out double-digit assists on two occasions: 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 2.29 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 20 blocks (2.00/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 .571 from the field and has shot 50% or better in eight of the 10 games. He's also hitting 85% of his free throws in averaging a career-best 9.2 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 six games, Coleman is averaging 12.3 points while shooting 48% from the floor (29-of-60). He scored a season-high 19 points vs. Providence and also led the 49ers with 14 points vs. #14 Arizona State. Overall, this year he is shooting .612 from two-point range (30-of-49).
A-10'S RPI ON RISE:
According to rpiratings.com, the Atlantic 10 is the nation's eighth strongest league.
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 three-point range against A-10 competition. He was one of four 49ers with over 35 steals.
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 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 192 wins. By opening his 11th season, he has matched Mullins for the longets 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. In the current Top 25 rankings, 76 Classic first round foe Arizona State is ranked 15th, while possible third-round opponent Wake Forest is ranked #20/#25. In addition, 2008-09 opponents Clemson, Southern Illinois, Tulsa, Xavier and Rhode Island are all receiving votes. Possible 76 Classic opponents Baylor and St. Mary's are also receiving votes.
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 recently 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.
LUTZ ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH:
With 192 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 192-132 record. Record-breaking win #183 came 81-64 at home against Saint Louis, Feb 23.
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.
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 1-5 when trailing 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).
593 Straight Games with a Trey:
After hitting 8 treys vs. Youngstown State, the 49ers have scored at least one three-point field goal in 593 straight games, which includes all 302 games played in the 90s, and every game in the last 18 years. The last game without a trey was in a win over Jacksonville, 2/23/89. The 49ers streak ranks 9th in the nation.
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