Jan 10, 2004

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A sellout crowd of 9,105 watched as the 49ers (10-3; 2-0) took care of business, 81-65, over visiting East Carolina (8-4; 0-2) in Conference USA action.

Sophomore Curtis Withers notched his C-USA leading eighth double-double of the season with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds and Demon Brown added 13 points and Brendan Plavich 12 as Charlotte rolled to its fourth straight win and its seventh win in the last eight games.

The sellout crowd was also treated to an electric halftime performance by Clay Aiken, a UNC Charlotte alum who has risen to fame this year following a finalist appearance in the hit TV show "American Idol". Aiken performed the national anthem before the game, with hundreds of flashbulbs popping throughout the arena. At halftime, in a 49ers jersey, Aiken again wowed the crowd with two songs, including his hit single "Invisible". All fans who came to the game left with a Clay Aiken bobblehead doll, compliments of Food Lion and Healthy Choice. Aiken also made a $20,000 donation to the university's capital campaign, earmarked for the College of Education. Food Lion and Healthy Choice, likewise, made a $20,000 donation to the Bubel-Aiken Foundation.

The 49ers led 42-33 at the half and after East Carolina cut the lead to five, 42-37, just one minute into the second half, Charlotte went on a 13-2 run to push the lead to 16, 55-39, with 14:34 left to play. ESU would get no closer than 13 the rest of the way.

Charlotte forced 22 turnovers and outrebounded ECU, 37-29. The Pirates shot .522 from the floor but were hurt by the large number of turnovers. Derrick Wiley led ECU with 15 points.

The win continued the 49ers best start under head coach Bobby Lutz and the program's best start since 1994-95. This is the first time sincec 1997-98 that the 49ers have opened the season 2-0 in C-USA play.

The 49ers next game is at Memphis, Jan. 17. Charlotte returns to Halton Arena, Tues., Jan. 20 to face Marquette.