Charlotte and Halton Arena Gear Up for a Thrilling New Year’s Eve Showdown Against Tulane in AAC Opener!

CHARLOTTE – The American Athletic Conference schedule kicks off on Tuesday, Dec. 31, when Charlotte Men’s Basketball (7-6) takes on Tulane (6-7) in the league opener for the 2024-25 season.

The 49ers, in their second year in the AAC, will tip off against the Green Wave at 2 p.m. on New Year’s Eve at Halton Arena.

Supporters can follow the action on Tuesday through Sidearm Live Stats, HERE, or via ESPN+ featuring Bobby Roskinski and former Niners star Jobey Thomas in the broadcast, HERE. As always, Niner Nation can tune in to the game on ESPN 730 The Game with the Voice of the Niners, Matt Sweirad, alongside Charlotte alum Trevor Wilt calling the play-by-play, HERE.

Moreover, fans can acquire individual game tickets, season tickets, or a flex plan for Charlotte Basketball home contests, HERE.

LAYUP LINES
– Tuesday’s contest signifies the start of American Athletic Conference play.
– The Niners returned home on Friday following a week spent in Honolulu, Hawaii, where they participated in the 2024 Diamond Head Classic.
– Charlotte concluded the non-conference segment of its schedule with a 7-6 record. 
– The 49ers finished 1-2 in the Diamond Head Classic, with a notable double-overtime win against Murray State.
– In the encounter with the Racers, Nik Graves achieved his first 30-point game, recording a personal best of 31 points, while Giancarlo Rosado contributed a career-high of 23 points, including a game-tying three-pointer that forced overtime.
– In the subsequent game against the College of Charleston, Jaehshon Thomas posted a career-high 23 points.
– Graves is ranked fifth nationally with 110 free throw attempts and eighth with 83 successful shots. As a team, Charlotte is fourth in the NCAA in both free throw attempts and successful free throws made.
– The Niners are averaging only 8.7 turnovers per game, which is the second-lowest in the nation.      
– Graves, Thomas, and Robert Braswell IV have all started in all 13 matches this season.
– After missing the first four games of December, Rosado made his return against Hawai’i, participating as a reserve in all three contests of the Diamond Head Classic.
– Last season marked Charlotte’s inaugural year in The American, where the Niners concluded with a 13-5 record in conference play, achieving their first top-three league finish since 2006. The 49ers equaled program records with 13 conference victories and 13 wins at Halton Arena. They also recorded their first-ever eight-game conference winning stretch and accomplished their first home victory over a ranked opponent since 2013.

SCOUTING THE GREEN WAVE
– Tulane’s record stands at 6-7, featuring key victories against ULM and Southern Miss but suffering losses to in-state rivals New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana.
– Prior to their victory against the Golden Eagles, the Green Wave encountered a five-game losing streak. Tulane is also winless in five games away from Avron B. Fogelman Arena.
– 6-8 forward Kaleb Banks leads the squad in scoring (17.9 points per game) and rebounding (8.5). The former Indiana reserve has already achieved six double-doubles and five 20-point performances this season, highlighted by a 33-point, 16-rebound display against Florida State. He boasts a shooting percentage of 48.9% from the field and 38.6% (on 4.4 attempts/game) from beyond the arc.
– Guard Rowan Brumbaugh ranks second on the team with 13.2 points per game, having scored in double digits for nine straight contests.
– Ron Hunter, formerly the head coach at IU Indy and Georgia State, holds the 21st position among active Division I head coaches in terms of career wins. 

SERIES HISTORY
Charlotte has triumphed in eight of the last nine encounters, starting from 2000, against Tulane and holds a 16-9 all-time record.
– Between 2000 and 2005, Charlotte secured seven consecutive victories, including two during the Conference USA Tournament. In the 2002 C-USA Quarterfinals, Jobey Thomas, our ESPN+ commentator, made six three-pointers and scored 22 points for the win.
– In the previous season, the Niners overcame the Green Wave, 75-71, capturing their seventh consecutive victory at that time. Charlotte led throughout the contest, with Graves scoring 13 points and grabbing four rebounds.
– Charlotte and Tulane have faced each other only twice since 2006. In a Feb. 7, 2014 encounter in New Orleans, La., Tulane emerged victorious with a score of 64-63. Pierria Henry led the team with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

CHARLOTTE’S DIAMOND HEAD RECAP
– After falling to Hawai’i, 78-61, in their opening match, the Niners moved to the consolation round of the Diamond Head Classic. Hawai’i displayed an astonishing 64.3 percent shooting (18-of-28) from the floor and 62.5 percent (five-of-eight) from three-point range in the first half before cooling off in the second half.
– Day 2 of the tournament saw Charlotte recover with an exhilarating 94-90 double-overtime win over Murray State. In regulation, the Niners trailed 70-65 with less than 30 seconds remaining, thanks to pivotal plays from Giancarlo Rosado and Nik Graves. Rosado’s last-second three-pointer forced overtime, while Graves contributed 12 of his career-high 31 points in the two overtime periods and Rosado added 16 of his personal-best 23 points in the second half.
– Competing against the College of Charleston on the final day of the tournament, Charlotte rallied from a 21-point deficit to contend for overtime. With a career-high 23 points and nine rebounds from Jaehshon Thomas, Nik Graves’ potential game-tying three-pointer almost forced overtime. Down 84-81 with just 3.9 seconds remaining, Graves intentionally missed a free throw, clinched the offensive rebound himself, and attempted to tie the game but was unable to replicate his previous theatrics.
– Over the course of the three matches, Graves averaged 19.3 points per game, ranking him third in scoring. He was one of only four players to achieve a 30-point game during the tournament. 
– The Niners concluded the tournament with the highest-scoring offense (78 points per game) but also the poorest defense (84 points allowed per game). Charlotte accumulated a total of 73 free throws—17 more than the nearest competitor in the tournament—counterbalancing their team-worst 25.4% shooting percentage beyond the arc.

THE RETURN OF G
– Rosado made his comeback during the Diamond Head Classic after sitting out the previous four games and almost the entire second half against ETSU.
– The Niners could not have triumphed over Murray State without Rosado’s outstanding performance. He recorded a career-high 23 points, including the critical three-pointer to push the game into overtime, with 0.9 seconds left. The West Palm Beach, Fla., native shot 7-of-11 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
– Following four years and 118 games at FAU, Rosado is experiencing a standout season with Charlotte. He is second on the team with an average of 13.1 points per game, boasting a shooting percentage of 53.6% from the field, and leading the team inrebounding (5.9) and even more impressively, assists (3.2).
– Finally receiving the opportunity to display his complete range of skills, Rosado swiftly went to work, scoring a then-career-high 16 points and providing 7 assists in the season opener.
– He followed that up with his first career double-double against Long Island. His 19 points set a new career-high, while his 10 rebounds matched another career milestone.

THE ASCENT OF NIK
– In his junior season, Nik Graves has been a powerhouse, averaging 17.3 points per game this year, placing him sixth within the AAC. He has achieved double-digit scoring in every game this season, the sole 49er to accomplish this, and he has already recorded five 20-point outings, highlighted by a career-high 31 points against Murray State last week during the Diamond Head Classic.
– He recorded a career-best 9-of-20 shooting from the floor and was flawless at the free-throw line, going 12-for-12 against the Racers. He also contributed 12 points during the two overtime periods to secure the triumph.
– Graves sits fifth in the nation with 110 free throw attempts and eighth nationally with 83 makes. He has taken 10 or more free throws in five contests this season, and he has taken at least nine in each of the most recent five games.
– The native of Durham, N.C., transitioned from averaging 1.6 points as a freshman in 2022-23 to starting 30 games and ending as the team’s fourth-leading scorer (10.4 points) last year.
– He previously established a career-high with 23 points against Richmond and matched that feat again at Georgia State.
– Even more daunting for Charlotte’s adversaries is that Graves still has room for growth. He is shooting merely 26.7% from beyond the arc compared to 33% last season and is converting 75.5% of his free throws after shooting 80% last year. Those metrics are expected to improve as the season progresses.

FEBRUARY 8: BOBBY LUTZ DAY                                                           
– At halftime on Saturday, Feb. 8, during Charlotte’s Alumni Reunion Weekend matchup against Rice, it will be Bobby Lutz Day, as Lutz will take his rightful spot in the rafters alongside other legendary names who have represented Charlotte Men’s Basketball.
– The 49ers and Owls will tip off at 3:30 p.m., following Charlotte Lacrosse’s inaugural game at Jerry Richardson Stadium at 12:30 p.m. 
– “You can’t discuss the history of our men’s basketball program without mentioning Bobby Lutz,” stated Director of Athletics Mike Hill. “Bobby’s contributions and influence during his 12-year tenure as head coach have truly established the benchmark for our program, and we are privileged to celebrate his legacy on February 8.”
– Already enshrined in the Charlotte Athletics Hall of Fame, Lutz’s 12-year tenure as head coach included 218 victories, five NCAA Tournament appearances, three NIT trips, and three conference championships.

LAST TIME AT HOME: GRAVES AND BRASWELL IV COMBINE FOR 40 POINTS IN 75-70 WIN OVER WEST GEORGIA
– Fueled by a remarkable showing from Robert Braswell IV and Nik Graves, each contributing 20 points, Charlotte clinched a hard-fought 75-70 triumph over an upset-minded West Georgia (1-11) on December 17, at Halton Arena.
– The 49ers improved to 6-4 thanks to clutch moments from their star duo. With Charlotte down 59-60 and five minutes remaining, Braswell IV and Graves combined for 12 of the final 16 points to propel the Niners to victory. Braswell shot five-of-eight from the field, two-of-three from three-point range, and eight-of-nine from the free-throw line. Graves made five of his 10 field-goal attempts, including two of his four triples, and went eight-of-nine from the charity stripe.
– Charlotte converted 27 of 31 free throws, achieving a season-high 87.1 percent from the free-throw line, while the Wolves managed 6-of-11 at the line. 
– Despite the nine lead changes and 10 tie scores, the 49ers maintained the lead for over 33 minutes, while West Georgia was ahead for only three minutes and 19 seconds.
– Holding a lead of 69-66 with under 45 seconds to play and the shot clock winding down, Graves executed a size-up dribble and swiftly rose for a three-pointer from the wing. The junior guard netted the triple, driving a stake into the Wolves’ hopes as the shot established a commanding 72-66 lead for Charlotte.

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

THE BOYS ARE BACK AGAIN
– Junior Nik Graves leads the group of eight returnees for the 2024-25 season. The point guard averaged 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per contest last season. He topped the team with 85 assists, ranked second with 30 steals, and was the fourth-leading scorer on the roster.
– Isaiah Folkes returns after making 19 starts in 2023-24 for the 49ers. The 49ers recorded a 14-5 mark with the Gainesville, Va., native as a starter. This will mark his fifth season with the program after joining in the middle of the 2020-21 season.
– Robert Braswell IV is back for his seventh season of college basketball. Throughout his six-year career, which began at Syracuse, the Jacksonville, Fla., native has appeared in 110 contests. In his three seasons in the Queen City, Braswell IV has averaged seven points per game, shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from three.
– Dean Reiber transferred to Charlotte last year after three seasons at Rutgers. He was a consistent presence on the court for the 49ers as one of three players to participate in all 31 games last season.
– Nick Richart and Rich Rolf also return for additional seasons in the Queen City. This marks their second and third years with the program, respectively. Richart did not play his freshman year after redshirting, while Rolf appeared in three games before sustaining a season-ending injury in 2023-24. 

NEW 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 expected to contribute significantly if the Niners want to build on their success from last season.
– Rosado is quite familiar with the Queen City, but this time he’s on the opposing side of the court as a predicted Charlotte starter after spending four seasons at Florida Atlantic. The six-foot-eight forward participated in 118 games with the Owls and played a crucial role in their run to the Final Four in 2023.
– The American conference is a challenging league for newcomers, but for guardBen Bradford, perhaps he will be a deviation from the norm. He clearly possesses the talent after averaging 27 points per game at Gaithersburg High School. Coach Fearne along with this Charlotte team has a history of utilizing freshmen. Graves participated in 22 contests during his inaugural season and former players Brice Williams and Jahmir Young also had considerable playing time as freshmen.
– Blackmon is a fluid shooter who converted nearly 36 percent from beyond the arc on over five attempts per game last season for Coastal Carolina. He comes to the Queen City following two years with the Chanticleers. He was the squad’s third-highest scorer with 11.4 points per game in 2023-24.
– Szymczyk provides the Niners with another reliable choice in the frontcourt. The Frankfurt, Germany native and Florida transfer sat out the entire 2023-24 season, yet he did take part in 14 games as a true freshman.
– Thomas brings Charlotte a player with multi-level scoring capabilities and a versatile guard profile. At Florida Southwestern State, the Aurora, Ill., native topped his JuCo with 16 points per game, earning all-conference and all-state accolades.
– Oden played at DePaul during the past season after spending three years at Wyoming. As the most seasoned player among all newcomers, the six-foot-nine forward has made 86 starts throughout his career, averaging 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. In 2022, he initiated 32 games for Wyoming, aiding the Cowboys to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in seven years.
– Nika Metskhvarishvili hails from Tbilisi, Georgia, and transfers to Charlotte following three years with UL-Monroe. In 2023-24, the six-foot-eight forward was an honorable mention All-Sun Belt selection after leading the squad in points (12.3) and rebounds (5.8) per game.

2023-24 SEASON SUMMARY
– Last season, the Niners finished with a 19-12 overall record and a 13-5 record in their inaugural season in The American. The 49ers achieved their first finish in the league’s top three since 2006.
– The 49ers’ 13 victories in the conference and 13 wins at Halton Arena matched program records. Charlotte also recorded its first-ever eight-game winning streak in conference play, along with its first victory over a ranked opponent at home since 2013.
– The 49ers were spearheaded by Lu’Cye Patterson, who received second-team All-AAC and second-team all-district honors in 2023-24. He recorded a team-best 14.6 points per game.
– Igor Milicic Jr., last season’s leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, was recognized as a third-team All-AAC selection.
– This duo helped the 49ers surpass the expectations that had them finishing 13th of 14 in the AAC.

NINER HIGHLIGHTS
– A total of 10 competitions will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU, while an additional 20 games will be accessible via ESPN+.
– Halton Arena will host three nationally televised matchups this season.
– On Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, Charlotte will welcome Memphis on either ESPN2 or ESPNU at 2 p.m.
– On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the 49ers will greet Wichita State for a 7 p.m. clash that will be available on either ESPN2 or ESPNU.
– The Niners’ home game against East Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 15, is scheduled for ESPNU. The start time is set for 4 p.m.
– For Christmas 2024, Charlotte journeyed to Honolulu, Hawaii, to participate 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 ranks second only to Oklahoma State (eight) for the most players in their fifth year or longer of college.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Niners will kick off the new year against Rice in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in AAC competition.