49ers Clash with Hawai’i in Exciting Late-Night Showdown at Diamond Head Classic

HONOLULU, Hawaii— Charlotte Men’s Basketball (6-4) has arrived in Honolulu to experience competition in paradise during the festive season as the 49ers are set to compete against Hawai’i on Sunday (Dec. 22) night for the opening day of the 2024 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

The 49ers, participating in their first nationally broadcast game (ESPN2) this season, will commence play against the Rainbow Warriors at 6:30 p.m. Hawaii Time (11:30 p.m. Eastern Time) at Hawai’i’s SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Niners, scheduled for three games in the Aloha State, are among eight teams competing in the tournament from Dec. 22 to 25.

Supporters can track Saturday’s developments via Sidearm Live Stats, HERE, or Niner Nation can catch the action on ESPN 730 The Game with Matt Sweirad, the Voice of the Niners, alongside Charlotte alum Trevor Wilt, calling the game, HERE.

LAYUP LINES
– The 49ers are one of eight groups slated to participate in the 2024 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic from Dec. 22 to 25.
– On Sunday, Dec. 22, in the first of three matches, the Niners will face the host squad, Hawai’i, at 6:30 p.m. Hawaii Time and 11:30 p.m. Eastern.
– On Monday, Dec. 23, Charlotte may play either Nebraska or Murray State. The winner of the Nebraska-Murray State match and Charlotte-Hawai’i encounter will compete at 5:30 p.m. HT (10:30 p.m. ET), while the consolation game starts at 7:30 p.m. HT (12:30 a.m. ET).
– Charlotte makes its national television debut for the 2024-25 season. The matches on Sunday and Monday will be aired on ESPN2.
– The 15th installment of the ESPN Events men’s college basketball tournament also showcases the College of Charleston, Loyola Chicago, Oakland, & Oregon State.
– Charlotte revisits Honolulu, Hawaii for the first time since 2018.
– This marks the Niners’ second appearance in the Diamond Head Classic. In 2018, Charlotte ended up 0-3 with losses to TCU, Rhode Island, and Colorado.
– The 49ers face Hawai’i for only the second time in history. On December 29, 1998, Charlotte triumphed over the Rainbow Warriors, 70-68, in Manoa, Hawaii.
– The Niners hold a 6-6 overall record in tournaments based in Hawaii.
– The Diamond Head Classic signifies the conclusion of the non-conference schedule, with American Athletic Conference play commencing next week when the Niners host Tulane in the league opener on Tuesday, Dec. 31.
– The 49ers enter the tournament on a two-game winning streak following back-to-back victories over Georgia State on Dec. 14 and West Georgia on Dec. 17.
– In the latest two victories, Robert Braswell IV is averaging 19.5 points with 59% shooting accuracy from the field, while Nik Graves averages 17.5 points with 59% shooting from the field as well.

SCOUTING THE RAINBOW WARRIORS
– Hawai’i stands at 6-3 this season, showcasing a solid 6-1 record at home in the Stan Sheriff Center.
– Last Saturday’s victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi helped break a two-game losing stretch. Hawai’i faced consecutive road defeats against Grand Canyon and Long Beach State to kick off December.
– Gytis Nemeikša tops the team in scoring (14 points per game) and ranks second in rebounding (6.6), despite only starting two games and averaging 22 minutes. The 6-8 senior forward has claimed two double-doubles this year, including a season-best of 24 points against Grand Canyon. He has scored in double figures in each of the last seven games.
– 6-10 forward Tanner Christensen boasts an impressive 69% shooting percentage from the field and leads the team in rebounding (7.6 per game). After averaging 16 points in the first five games of the season, Christensen has dropped to 7.5 points across his last four appearances.
– The Rainbow Warriors are aiming for their second mid-season tournament title after winning the Outrigger Rainbow Classic in early November.
– Eric Ganot has been the head coach for the Rainbow Warriors for the past 10 seasons, steering them to consecutive 20-win seasons heading into 2024-25.

CLT IN MID-SEASON TOURNEYS
– Overall, the Niners hold a record of 71-57 in regular season tournaments with 18 championships. In 2012, Charlotte triumphed in the Great Alaska Shootout and then took home the Puerto Rico Tip-Off the following season.
– Last year, the 49ers recorded a 1-1 outcome in the Jacksonville Classic. However, they can reflect on the 2022-23 season as the last time they achieved multiple wins in an in-season tournament. That season, the Niners overcame Boise State and Tulsa in the Myrtle Beach Invitational before succumbing in the championship to UMass.

ANALYZING THE CORNHUSKERS
– Following their NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in a decade last season, Fred Hoiberg’s (previously the Iowa State and Chicago Bulls Head Coach) Cornhuskers have resumed strong play with a 7-2 record, including victories over Indiana and #14 Creighton.
– Before transferring to Nebraska, Brice Williams spent three seasons with the 49ers, donning the same colors as his father, Henry Williams, who is honored in Charlotte’s Hall of Fame as the program’s all-time leading scorer. Currently, Brice is the lead scorer for the Cornhuskers with 18.9 points per game, shooting 49.6% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. He has also received the Oscar Robertson Trophy National Player of the Week accolade after scoring a season-high 30 points with 10-of-15 shooting against Indiana. This marks his fourth career 30-point game and his first with Nebraska.

ANALYZING THE RACERS
– After guiding Murray State from 2011 to 2015, including a 31-2 record and a NCAA Tournament berth in 2012, Steve Prohm returned in 2022-23 to lead the Racers once more.
– Murray State comes into the Diamond Head Classic on a two-game losing streak following losses on the road against Western Kentucky and Bowling Green.
– The top three scorers for Murray State boast a shooting percentage better than 39% from beyond the arc, as the Racers rank 27th in the nation with a three-point shooting percentage of 38.6%. JaCobi Wood averages 15 points per game, shooting 40.4% from three on over five attempts per game. Meanwhile, 6-7 guard AJ Ferguson is more selective with his three-point shots, attempting only 21 over 10 games, but has successfully made 11 for a 52.4% rate. Averaging 12.3 points and six rebounds per game, Ferguson serves as the team’s second highest scorer and leading rebounder.

GRAVES AND BRASWELL IV COMBINE FOR 40 POINTS IN 75-70 WIN OVER WEST GEORGIA
– In a remarkable performance from Robert Braswell IV and Nik Graves, who each contributed 20 points, Charlotte managed a hard-fought 75-70 victory over upset-minded West Georgia (1-11) on December 17, at Halton Arena.
– The 49ers improved to 6-4 thanks to pivotal plays from this star pair. With Charlotte trailing 59-60 and five minutes on the clock, Braswell IV and Graves collectively scored 12 of the final 16 points driving the Niners to victory.

to triumph. Braswell hit five-of-eight from the floor, two-of-three from beyond the arc, and eight-of-nine from the foul line. Graves converted five of his 10 shooting attempts, including two of his four three-point tries, and was eight-of-nine from the charity stripe.
– Charlotte successfully made 27 of 31 free throws, achieving a season-high 87.1 percent from the free throw line, while the Wolves converted 6-of-11 from the stripe.
– In spite of the nine lead alterations and 10 instances of tied scores, the 49ers maintained the lead for over 33 minutes throughout the contest, in contrast to just three minutes and 19 seconds for West Georgia.
– Holding a 69-66 advantage with less than 45 seconds left in the game and the shot clock winding down, Graves executed a size-up dribble and swiftly elevated for a three-pointer from the wing. The junior guard swished the triple, delivering a crushing blow to the Wolves’ hopes as the basket extended Charlotte’s lead to a noteworthy 72-66.

THE ASCENT OF NIK
– On Monday, Graves received his second AAC Honorable Mention of the Week, following an average of 19 points on 54.5 percent shooting from the field against Davidson and Georgia State in the previous week.
– The Durham, N.C., native progressed from an average of 1.6 points as a freshman in 2022-23 to starting 30 contests, concluding last year as the team’s fourth-highest scorer (10.4 points).
– Throughout his junior season, Graves has uplifted his performance, ranking eighth in the AAC with 16.7 points per game. He is the sole 49er to achieve double digits in every game this season. He has thrived at drawing fouls, placing second in the conference with 77 free throw attempts.
– He established a new career-best with 23 points against Richmond and matched that feat again at Georgia State.
– Even more impressively, Graves has enhanced his scoring while decreasing his turnovers, recording 32 assists against just 12 turnovers—an improvement over last season’s 2.57 assist-to-turnover ratio.
– What is even more daunting for Charlotte’s rivals is that Graves still has potential for further growth. He is converting only 29.8% of his three-point attempts compared to 33% last season and is making 74% of his free throws after shooting 80% last year. Those statistics are expected to improve before the conclusion of the season.
– In fact, he is already elevating his shooting percentage from beyond the arc as he is currently shooting 38.4% from three on 13 attempts over his last three games.

WE’RE HEADING TO HAWAII
– The 49ers aim to enhance their 2018 performance in the Diamond Head Classic, where they lost all three encounters against TCU, Rhode Island, and Colorado.
– The 49ers hold a 6-6 all-time record in tournaments held in Hawaii. In 2006, Charlotte went 2-1 with victories over Valparaiso and Wyoming, finishing fifth in Honolulu’s Rainbow Classic. In 1998, the Niners reached the finals of the tournament, triumphing over Murray State and Hawaii, ultimately falling in the championship match to Princeton.
– In 1986, the Niners achieved a 2-1 record in the Hawaii Air Silversword Classic in Maui, securing wins over Chaminade and VCU.

A REVIEW OF THE FIRST FIVE
– When comparing the Niners’ initial five games this season to last year’s, it is evident that the Charlotte offense has significantly improved. The 49ers are averaging 72.6 points per game this year, an increase from 63 points/game during the first five games in 2023.
– Charlotte scored over 70 points only once in the initial five games last year, whereas the Niners have already surpassed that threshold three times in 2024.
– The 2024 Niners have attempted 104 three-pointers in five games, which is 25 more attempts than at this stage last season. This averages out to five additional attempts per game.
– The 49ers are also drawing fouls more frequently this season. Charlotte has made more free throws this season (104) than they attempted by this time last year (77).
The breakdown of the first five game-by-game free throw MADE totals in 2024: 15, 16, 24, 12, 37.
The breakdown of the first five game-by-game free throw ATTEMPT totals in 2023: 21, 5, 15, 20, 16.
– In the season opener of 2024, the 49ers scored 88 points and made 11 three-pointers, hitting 50% from deep. At this moment last year, Charlotte had not surpassed six three-point shots in any game. The Niners did not reach 88 points against a D-I opponent last season and only shot 50% from three in a game during the regular season finale on March 9.

EARLY NATIONAL SIGNING DAY
– Head Coach Aaron Fearne commenced the construction of his 2025-26 roster by signing two high school talents— Jaylen Cross and Jairne Elouna Eyenga on Early National Signing Day on November 15.
– Cross, ranked No. 159 nationally and No. 8 in North Carolina according to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings, is the highest-rated recruit to commit to Charlotte since 2009.
– The six-foot-four guard from Greensboro, N.C., is a Caldwell Academy product rated as a three-star recruit by On3, 247 Sports, and ESPN, while garnering a four-star rating from Rivals.
– Elouna Eyenga is a Belgian national currently enrolled at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. This six-foot-nine forward was part of the Under-18 Belgian National Team, competing in Division A of FIBA EuroBasket this summer.
– On July 28, 2024, Elouna Eyenga recorded impressive stats with 15 points, eight rebounds, and three assists against Turkey in the U18 Eurobasket, followed by a 10-point, seven-rebound, two-assist performance the very next day against Germany. 

THE GUYS ARE BACK AGAIN
– Junior Nik Graves leads the group of eight returners for the 2024-25 season. The point guard averaged 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game last year. He was the team leader in assists with 85, was second in steals with 30, and was the fourth-highest scorer on the team.
– Isaiah Folkes returns after starting 19 games in 2023-24 for the 49ers. The team held a record of 14-5 with the Gainesville, Va., native in the starting lineup. This marks his fifth year with the program after joining mid-season in the 2020-21 campaign.
– Robert Braswell IV returns for his seventh season of collegiate basketball. Throughout his six-year journey, which began at Syracuse, the Jacksonville, Fla., native has participated in 110 games. Over his three years in the Queen City, Braswell IV has averaged seven points per contest while shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from beyond the arc.
– Dean Reiber transferred to Charlotte last year after three years at Rutgers. He was a key player for the 49ers, being one of three athletes to participate in all 31 games last season.
– Nick Richart and Rich Rolf are also returning for another year in the Queen City. This is their second and third seasons with the program, respectively. Richart redshirted his freshman year and Rolf played in three games before facing a season-ending injury in 2023-24. 

NEWCOMERS TO THE QUEEN CITY
– Charlotte revamped its roster with seven new additions, including six transfers. Giancarlo Rosado, Ben Bradford, Kylan Blackmon, Aleks Szymczyk, Jaehshon Thomas, Jeremiah Oden, and Nika Metskhvarishvili have joined Charlotte and will be depended upon significantly if the Niners are to enhance their accomplishments from last season.
– Rosado is quite familiar with the Queen City, but this time he will be on the opposing side as a presumed starter for Charlotte following four years at Florida Atlantic. The six-foot-eight forward appeared in 118 contests with the Owls and played a pivotal role in the team’s 2023 journey to the Final Four.
– The American league can be challenging for freshmen, but for guard Ben Bradford, he may serve as an exception. He undoubtedly possesses the talent, having averaged 27 points per game at Gaithersburg High School. Coach Fearne and the Charlotte staff have a successful history of integrating freshmen into the team. Graves participated in 22 games in hisfirst season and previous players Brice Williams and Jahmir Young also engaged significantly as freshmen.
– Blackmon is a graceful shooter who scored nearly 36 percent from beyond the arc on over five attempts per game last year for Coastal Carolina. He joins the Queen City following two seasons with the Chanticleers. He was the team’s third-highest scorer with 11.4 points per game in 2023-24.
– Szymczyk offers the Niners another reliable choice in the frontcourt. The Frankfurt, Germany-born athlete and Florida transfer was sidelined for the entire 2023-24 season, but he did play in 14 games as a true freshman.
– In Thomas, Charlotte gains a player endowed with versatile scoring capabilities and a combo guard prototype. At Florida Southwestern State, the Aurora, Ill., native topped his JuCo with 16 points per game, securing all-conference and all-state accolades.
– Oden played at DePaul last season after spending three years at Wyoming. The most seasoned player among all newcomers, the six-foot-nine forward boasts 86 starts in his career, with averages of 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. In 2022, he commenced 32 games for Wyoming and assisted the Cowboys in making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in seven years.
– Nika Metskhvarishvili hails from Tbilisi, Georgia, and he transfers to Charlotte following three seasons with UL-Monroe. In the 2023-24 season, the six-foot-eight forward was named to the third team All-Sun Belt after leading the team in points (12.3) and rebounds (5.8) per game.

2023-24 SEASON SUMMARY
– Last year, the Niners posted an overall record of 19-12 with a 13-5 record in their inaugural season in The American. The 49ers achieved their first top-three finish in the league since 2006.
– The 49ers’ 13 conference victories and 13 wins at Halton Arena matched program records. Charlotte also recorded its first-ever eight-game conference winning streak, in addition to its first win against a ranked opponent at home since 2013.
– The 49ers were spearheaded by Lu’Cye Patterson, who was recognized as a second-team All-AAC and a second-team all-district selection in 2023-24, averaging a team-high 14.6 points per game. 
– Igor Milicic Jr., last year’s principal rebounder and second-leading scorer, earned third-team All-AAC recognition.
– The duo propelled the 49ers to exceed the predictions that placed them 13th out of 14 in the AAC.

NINER HIGHLIGHTS      
– A total of 10 games will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU, while an additional 20 games will be available on ESPN+.
– Halton Arena will host three nationally televised games this season.
   – On Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, Charlotte will face Memphis on either ESPN2 or ESPNU at 2 p.m.
   – On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the 49ers will welcome Wichita State for a 7 p.m. contest that will be aired on either ESPN2 or ESPNU.
   – The Niners’ home game against East Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 15, is scheduled for ESPNU, with tip-off anticipated at 4 p.m.
–  For the Christmas of 2024, Charlotte will head to Honolulu, Hawaii, to compete in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
– Charlotte will face Hawai’i in the opening round of the eight-team tournament on December 22 at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
– With five fifth-year players, a sixth-year, and a seventh-year player on its roster, Charlotte is second only to Oklahoma State (eight) for the highest number of players in their fifth year or longer of college.

UP NEXT
The winner of Nebraska-Murray State and Charlotte-Hawai’i will compete on Monday, Dec. 23, at 5:30 p.m. HT (10:30 p.m. ET), while the consolation game will commence at 7:30 p.m. HT (12:30 a.m. ET). The third and final game of the tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 25.