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Men's Basketball
Goldwire's career-high sends Charlotte past Bonnies, 87-83
Feb. 9, 2008
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Leemire Goldwire established both a career-high and Atlantic 10 season-best with 39 points and went a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final minute as Charlotte (14-8, 5-3) handed a relentless St. Bonaventure club an 87-83 loss on Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center on Saturday evening. Goldwire did a majority of his damage in the second half, scoring 28 of the team's 47 points en route to his league-best fourth 30-point game. Goldwire failed to score in double figures in his last two games coming into tonight's contest, but broke out in a big way by going 12-of-17 from the floor, highlighted by eight three-pointers. He also added a season-high five steals in his 35 minutes of play. "He obviously was the difference tonight," said head coach Mark Schmidt. "Some of the shots he made were good looks, but for the most part we did a good job of getting a hand in his face. He's a remarkable player and tonight his abilities were on full display." The Bonnies (7-15, 1-7) received solid offensive efforts from several players en route to their first 80-point scoring output in 13 games. Senior Michael Lee scored 21 points and added eight rebounds in a full 40 minutes of work. Fellow big man Matt Morgan continued his impressive play with 17 points and seven boards off the bench. Senior guards Tyler Relph and Zarryon Fereti scored 16 and 15 points, respectively. Relph turned in second-straight solid all-around game with a career-best nine assists and five caroms. Charlotte held a two-possession lead for the better part of the first 13 minutes of the second half before a Lee three-pointer capped an 8-1 St. Bonaventure run and tied the game at 68-68 with 6:26 remaining.
After a Goldwire three gave the lead back to the 49ers on the next possession, the Bonnies tied the game at 71-71 on a Morgan layup and Lee free throw. The lead the shifted back to the 49ers as freshman An'Juan Wilderness' basket with 3:04 left gave Charlotte a 73-71 advantage. A key point in the game came on the very next possession as Lee was fouled in the act of shooting a three-pointer. After making the first free throw, Lee then missed the final two shots, allowing Charlotte to keep the lead, 73-72. The ball rarely left Goldwire's hands the rest of the way as the senior sharp-shooter drilled his eighth and final trifecta of the game with 1:49 to go, giving the visitor's a 77-72 edge. Goldwire then committed a grave-mistake on the defensive end as he fouled Relph as he put up a three-pointer. The senior point guard gave the Bonnies hope by calmly sinking all three shots, making it a one-possession game, at 77-75. Goldwire atoned for his miscue on the defensive end with a layup on the team's next possession making it 79-75. St. Bonaventure's comeback efforts were erased as Fereti missed the front end of a one-and-one with a chance to cut the lead to two, while the 49ers sank all eight of their free throws in the final 48 seconds. Aided by Goldwire's torrid shooting night, Charlotte shot 49 percent (26-53) from the field, 48 percent (13-27) from three and made 22-of-24 free throws. St. Bonaventure was just as efficient from the field shooting 46 percent (28-61), but was plagued by a 69 percent clip (16-23) from the free throw line, including four misses in the final five minutes. The Bonnies continued to have success on the boards as five different players grabbed at least two offensive rebounds, led by Morgan's five. The Brown and White won the rebound-battle for the fourth consecutive game with a 37-28 margin. After an efficient opening 13 minutes on the offensive end that resulted in a 29-22 lead, St. Bonaventure hit a four-minute wall as the 49ers began to hit their stride. Charlotte turned what was a seven-point deficit into a six-point lead, at 35-29. The most impressive fact about the run is that the final 10 points came with Goldwire on the bench. Lee brought the Bonnies right back as the senior scored the Bonnies final nine points of the frame to make it a two-point game, 40-38, at the half. Lee finished the opening 20 minutes with 16 points and seven boards. St. Bonaventure will make its second trip to the city of "Brotherly Love" on Wednesday for an A-10 clash against Saint Joseph's. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. Game Notes
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