Nov. 17, 2009

Durha, N.C. -

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The Charlotte 49ers powered past Elon, 75-61, in the first round of the DICK'S Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off First Round and will face #9/#8 Duke in the bracket championship (ESPN, Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes; WBCN Radio, 1660 AM: Matt Swierad, Charlie Frederick). The game is being televised as part of ESPN's College Basketball Tip-Off Marathon. The winner earns a trip to Madison Square Garden for the Tip-Off Semifinal and Championship rounds.

Charlotte has used an inside-out balance to move to a 2-0 start for the third time this decade (2007-08; 2000-01). In a season-opening win vs. UNC Asheville, shooting guard Shamarr Bowden debuted with 21 points on 6-of-11 three-pointers. Against Elon, power forward Shamari Spears made his 49ers debut and scored 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Charlotte reached the post-season in each of the other two years with 2-0 starts this decade (2008 NIT; 2001 NCAA)

Injury Update:
An'Juan Wilderness (strained calf) out

DEPTH:
Just two games into the season, seven different 49ers have already scored in double figures in a game - led by Shamari Spears (23 vs. Elon), Shamarr Bowden (21 vs. UNC Asheville) and DiJuan Harris (14 vs. UNC Asheville; 10 vs. Elon). 12 different 49ers have already hit the scoring column.

Season STARTS:
Charlotte is looking to start a season 3-0 for the first time since 1995-96. Charlotte started 4-0 that season, but ended the year 14-15.

FANTASTIC FROSH:
Red-shirt freshman Shamarr Bowden, A-10 co-Rookie of the Week, scored 21 points in just 11 minutes in his 49ers debut, hitting 6-of-11 three-pointers. In particular, Bowden hit four consecutive threes within a timespan of 1:07 in the second half after UNC Asheville had cut Charlotte's lead to one. His scoring spree pushed the lead back to a more comfortable double digits. Freshman forward Chris Braswell notched a double-double in his collegiate debut, scoring 10 points with 11 rebounds. He hit 6-of-8 free throws and added three assists.

Charlotte (2-0) at #9/#8 Duke (2-0) br> Charlotte is 0-2 all-time vs. Duke, with both losses coming at Cameron Indoor Stadium in the early `90's. Charlotte lost 111-94, Dec. 1, 1990, despite a 30-point effort from freshman Jarvis Lang. The following year, the 49ers came in nationally-ranked after an 11-1 start, but fell to the top-ranked Blue Devils 104-82. Lang missed that season after sufferng an injury in the first game of the season. Charlotte had posted top 25 wins over DePaul and Alabama in pushing into the national rankings. Jeff Mullins, a Duke all-America and jersey retiree, coached the 49ers in both games.

Charlotte is 25-46 all-time against top 25 foes, including an 8-19 record vs. top 10 teams. Head coach Bobby Lutz is 5-14 against top 10 opponents and owns the 49ers only two top 10 true road wins: at #7/#7 Syracuse, 2003-04 (W, 96-92); at #8/#7 Cincinnati, 2003-04 (W, 86-83).

Series vs. Duke: Charlotte trails, 0-2 (A: 0-2)

The Coach:
Bobby Lutz, Charlotte (all-time winningest coach)
Career: 382-237 (21st year)
at Charlotte: 201-146 (12th year)