The #9/#8 Duke Blue Devils jumped out to an early 17-4 lead and never looked back in handing Charlotte its first loss, 101-59, in the second round of the DICK'S Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off.

The Charlotte 49ers powered past Elon, 75-61, in the first round of the DICK'S Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off First Round and will face #9/#8 Duke in the bracket championship (ESPN, Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes; WBCN Radio, 1660 AM: Matt Swierad, Charlie Frederick). The game is being televised as part of ESPN's College Basketball Tip-Off Marathon. The winner earns a trip to Madison Square Garden for the Tip-Off Semifinal and Championship rounds.

Shamari Spears scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half and Charlotte beat Elon 75-61 on Monday night in the first round of the NIT Season Tip-Off. Rashad Coleman added 11 points and Dijuan Harris had 10 for the 49ers (2-0). They shot 41 percent in advancing to a second-round matchup against No. 9 Duke on Tuesday night.

Bobby Lutz opened his 12th season with his 200th victory as Charlotte 49ers head coach. Lutz, the 49ers all-time winningest coach, now takes his 49ers on the road to the DICK'S Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off to face Elon and either Coastal Carolina or #9/#8 Duke with the goal of reaching the tournament finals at Madison Square Garden. Charlotte is looking to start a season 2-0 for the third time this decade. In each of the previous two instances, Charlotte advanced to post-season play. The 49ers reached the NIT in 2008 after starting 2-0 and went to the NCAA Tournament in 2001 after topping Fordham and NC State in the CoSIDA Classic to open the season.

Phil Jones posted his first career double-double, Shamarr Bowden scored 21 points, including 12 over a key 1:07 stretch, and freshman Chris Braswell added a double-double in his collegiate debut as head coach Bobby Lutz recorded win #200 as 49ers head coach, 86-70, vs. UNC Asheville.

Bobby Lutz opens his 12th season as the Charlotte 49ers head coach Friday night as Charlotte hosts UNC Asheville at Halton Arena (WBCN Radio, 1660 AM: Matt Swierad). Lutz, the 49ers all-time winningest coach, will vy for win #200 as the 49ers top man. He holds a 199-146 record in his 11-year tenure as head coach. By starting his 12th season he passes icon Jeff Mullins (182-142; 11 years) for the longest run as 49ers head coach in school history.

Charlotte 49ers head coach Bobby Lutz announced that 49ers junior forward Shamari Spears (Salisbury, N.C.) will miss the 49ers season opener vs. UNC Asheville, Friday night, due to a violation of team rules.

Basketball Preview Shows hosted by Ryan Rose with guest coaches and players.

Charlotte 49ers freshman guard Gokhan Sirin (Istanbul, Turkey; St. Mary's Ryken H.S.) will serve a one-game NCAA suspension for participation with a professional club team. Sirin, a native of Istanbul, Turkey, will miss the 49ers season-opener vs. UNC Asheville, Friday, Nov. 13. In other news, An'Juan Wilderness will be out 2-4 weeks with a calf strain, while DiJuan Harris (ankle sprain) and Shamarr Bowden (shoulder) could play.

Junior forward Shamari Spears scored a game-high 26 points as the Charlotte 49ers ran out to a 52-27 halftime lead in toppling Johnson C. Smith, 91-70, in exhibition action, Thursday night. Spears, anchor of the 49ers rebuilt frontcourt, hit 7-of-13 field goals and was a perfect 12-of-12 from the foul line.

Bobby Lutz opens his 12th season as the Charlotte 49ers head coach with an exhibition game against crosstown foe Johnson C. Smith, Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. The 49ers have a slew of new faces including probable starters Shamari Spears, a 6-6 junior power forward who transferred from Boston College and Derrio Green, an explosive 6-2 sophomore combo guard.

Charlotte 49ers head coach Bobby Lutz's weekly coach's show, "Lutz LIVE!", will be held this season at the Wild Wing Café on 9539 Pinnacle Drive off Mallard Creek Boulevard in the University City area. The first official function with Wild Wing Café is a 49ers Hoops Tip-Off Party, Wednesday, November 4th from 7-8 p.m. The 2009-10 season begins the following evening with an exhibition game against Johnson C. Smith at Halton Arena.

The Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team has been picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic 10 in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches and selected media members. In addition, senior catalyst DiJuan Harris (Charlotte, N.C.) was named to the preseason all-Atlantic 10 second team while freshman Shamarr Bowden (Greensboro, N.C.) was named to the preseason all-Rookie Team.

Panning for Gold host AJ Mead closed his pre-season interview with head men's basketball coach Bobby Lutz stating "the gaunlet has been thrown out." And with that, Charlotte 49ers fans were challenged to show that they wanted him to "Bring Back the 'Stache" that he donned for his first eight seasons as the Charlotte 49ers leader.

Charlotte 49ers fans will get two opportunities this week to preview the men's and women's basketball teams prior to the 2009-10 season. Thursday night, the teams host the annual 49ers Basketball Madness at Halton Arena at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, the 49ers will unveil the family-friendly 49ers Fan Day presented by Barnes and Noble at UNC Charlotte. Basketball Madness will begin on Thursday, October 22 at 9pm, with Fan Day at 11am on Saturday, October 24. Both events will be held in Halton Arena. Admission is free and open to the public.