CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte had three players score in double-figures but the 49ers (4-4, C-USA: 0-1) fell to preseason Conference USA favorite the WKU Hilltoppers (8-2, C-USA: 1-0) in a tightly contested game, 67-63, in Halton Arena in the league opener for both teams.
Jahmir Young led all scorers with 23 points while grabbing six rebounds. Brice Williams finished the game with a career-high 21 points including connecting on his first eight field goals. Williams also grabbed seven rebounds. Jordan Shepherd rounded out the 49ers double-figure scorers with 10 points which all came in the second half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – The game began with the two teams exchanging baskets for the first couple of minutes. With 15 minutes on the clock, the 49ers were leading WKU, 8-6, then, Charlotte scored 13 of the next 17 points taking a 21-10 lead when Young connected on a three-point field goal with 8:32 on the clock. Williams scored six points, Young scored five points and Milos Supica scored the 49ers other two points during their first-half run. WKU cut Charlotte’s lead to 24-19 with four and half minutes left in the half. Then, Charlotte scored five straight points pushing their lead to 29-19 when Williams made a free throw with 2:53 on the clock. The Hilltoppers scored four straight points cutting Charlotte’s lead to 29-23. A basket and a free throw by Young and a basket by Williams pushed the 49ers lead back to double-digits 34-23 with 38 seconds left in the half. Charlotte led WKU, 36-28, at halftime after the Hilltoppers scored five of the final seven points of the half.
SECOND HALF – WKU scored the first six points of the second half cutting Charlotte’s lead to two points. Then, Williams knocked down another jumper and two free throws by Shepherd pushed the 49ers lead to 40-34 with 15:58 on the clock. The Hilltoppers cut Charlotte’s lead to one point a couple of times over the next two minutes. With the 49ers leading 44-43 with 13 minutes on the clock, Charlotte scored six straight points behind five points from Shepherd and a free throw by Young giving the 49ers a 50-43 lead at the 11-minute mark. |
With the 49ers leading 52-45, WKU went on an 11-0 run taking a 56-52 lead with 5:21 left in the game. Charlotte answered the run by scoring six straight points regaining the lead 58-56 when Shepherd completed a three-point play with 3:25 on the clock. WKU tied the score and then a free throw by Jared Garcia helped the 49ers regain the lead 59-58 at the two-minute mark. WKU scored five straight points regaining the lead for good at 63-59 with 14 seconds left in the game. A three by Young from the top of the key cut WKU’s lead to 63-62 with seven seconds left but WKU connected on four free throws in the final seven seconds to close out the game.
QUOTABLE –
“WKU is really talented, they were picked to be the best team in the league for a reason,” Charlotte 49ers coach Ron Sanchez said. “I am pleased with the way that we played and that we did do a lot of things well. We also made a lot of mental mistakes. We gave up a back door cut at the wrong time. We gave up offensive rebounds at the wrong time. WKU is a good offensive rebounding team, I am really proud of the way that we did the job for the most part on the glass. We did do a lot of good things but the mental lapses are the things that hurt us.”
Coach Sanchez on Brice Williams
“He did a great job today. His work ethic has been great through this whole pandemic. Today was the result of the work that he has put in. He works really hard. I am thrilled for him that he had such a good game. He didn’t take one shot today that was ill-advised, he did a really good job shooting the ball, passing the ball, and defending,”
NOTES
- Brice Williams finished the game shooting 8-for-9 from the field and 2-for-3 from beyond the three-point arc. Williams recorded his first career 20-point scoring game with his career-high 21 points. He scored 17 points in the first half. He has tallied three straight double-figure scoring games and five double-figure scoring games this season.
- Jahmir Young tallied his third straight 20-point scoring game with his game-high 23 points. Young has scored in double-figures 29 times in his career.
- Jordan Shepherd’s 10 points marked his 28th career double-figure scoring game.
NEXT GAME
The 49ers conclude their two-game Conference USA series against WKU in Halton Arena tomorrow, Saturday, January 2 at 4 p.m.
