Jon Davis attacks the basket. Photo by Ben Coon.
Despite the icy conditions, Halton Arena was filled to watch Charlotte close out their four-game homestand in convincing fashion, defeating Western Kentucky 88-71. The 49ers split their home stretch losing the first two games and winning the final two.
Jon Davis led the way finishing with 23 points and six assists. Braxton Ogbueze scored 19 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three. Finally, Joseph Uchebo finished with his fifth straight double-double, recording 14 points and 13 rebounds despite not playing the final eight minutes. Curran Scott would round out the 49er double-figure scorers with 15 points.
Ogbueze finished shooting fifty percent from beyond the arc. Photo by Leysha Caraballo.
“Good win for our team,” Mark Price said after the win. “We played with a lot more determination in the second half and it’s a good momentum builder.”
The 49ers began the game red-hot. After the first five minutes, Charlotte held a nine-point lead at 15-6 after three three-pointers to open the game. But offensive rebounding would cripple the 49er lead. The Hilltoppers would finish with 10 offensive rebounds, that would result in 14 second-chance points, during the half. With two and half minutes remaining, Western Kentucky would cut the lead down to three. An Ogbueze layup would extend the 49er lead to five. On the ensuing possession, Western Kentucky would answer with a mid-range jump shot to close the half with a three-point Charlotte advantage.
Scott would open the second half by scoring the first six 49er points. Both teams would exchange baskets for the next two minutes. But five minutes into the half, Charlotte would run away with the lead. Up 48-42, the 49ers would go on 16-2 run over the next five minutes to control the game. From there, the 49ers would maintain a 15 point lead until the final buzzer sounded.
Braxton Ogbueze celebrates after a big win. Photo by Ben Coon.
“I think we have really progressed over the season,” Davis said. “We have always had a positive mindset and we have done a good job of taking what the coaches have said to us and it’s showing now.”
On the night, Charlotte shot 55 percent from the floor, including 44 percent from three. This continues the 49ers hot shooting streak, which ranks third in Conference USA in three points made.
Another key for Charlotte was the ability to share with each other. The 49ers would finish the game with 17 team assists, six more than their season average.
The 49ers leave for warmer weather as they travel down to Miami to take on FIU on Thursday, Jan. 29. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.