49ers Down Mercer, 91-80
Phil Jones had 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. |
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Dec. 29, 2009
Halton Arena - Sophomore guard Derrio Green and junior Shamari Spears both scored 23 and junior center Phil Jones owned a key 2:00 minute span as the Charlotte 49ers topped Mercer, 91-80, at Halton Arena, Tuesday night.
The win was the 49ers eighth in nine games and pushed Charlotte to a 10-2 record, their best start since going 12-2 in 2004-05.
While Green and Spears were netting 20-point games, Jones gave the 49ers some key plays down the stretch to protect a six-point lead. Up by six, 81-75, with 3:27 to play, Jones converted a three-point play but Mercer answered with a three-pointer by E.J. Kusnyer. On Charlotte's next possession, Jones tipped in a Green missed three-pointer, then grabbed a defensive rebound at the other end and blocked a shot on Mercer's next possession, leading to a pair of DiJuan Harris free throws that put the 49ers up 88-78 with 1:21 to play.
"In the second half our offense played really well," said 49ers head coach Bobby Lutz. "We got good play out of our big guys. Phil made some huge plays."
Charlotte led by just four points at the half, 40-36, after committing nine first half turnovers and shooting just 38% from the field. The Niners offense improved in the second half, shooting 57% while committing just six turnovers.
Four 49ers scored in double figures, led by Spears, who notched his fifth 20-point game of the season, and Green, who hit 6-of-12 shots to post a career-high with his 23-point effort. Freshman forward Chris Braswell notched his fifth double-double of the year with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Jones added 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 17 minutes of play.
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Charlotte, which had been held below 60 points in the last two games, scored 91 for their eighth game of 80 or more points. In addition, the 12-point victory was the 49ers ninth win this year by double figures.
