Charlotte 49ers win their openers. Men’s, women’s basketball beat Presbyterian at home
Charlotte men’s basketball tipped off with a victory.
The 49ers started fast and held off Presbyterian in an 88-79 win to open their 2024-25 season inside Halton Arena on Monday night.
Head coach Aaron Fearne, who begins his first full season at the helm of Charlotte, has another fast-paced offense that shot the ball well early. Five Niners scored in double figures, led by 18 points apiece from Robert Braswell IV and Jaehshon Thomas.
There were more than 3,300 in the building Monday night as both the 49er men’s and women’s basketball teams debuted in the win column. Rowdy students filled the stands behind both baskets, joining the cheerful Niner marching band in a “Gold Rush” theme.
“I keep saying: I want this to be an experience that people remember for years and years,” Fearne said. “I want players to come here and experience the joy of playing in an environment like that and having success here in our program. I want our community to walk away and talk about it for the next week — and next year, and 10 years down the track — about the little slice of time they have here, and the experiences they have been part of as a community.
“And our students, that’s why you go to school over here. To be part of those types of things. Student turnout at football has been big time, they have a crazy time here at football. I want them to have the same thing here at basketball. Because I’ve been to high school over here. I hear people talk about their time at college, how they watch football, basketball, followed this player and that player, and that’s what I want this whole experience to be.”
Robert Braswell IV leads the way for Charlotte men
Charlotte (1-0) used a 17-2 run to open an early commanding lead, during which senior guard Isaiah Folkes scooped up a loose ball and jammed home a dunk. It led by as many as 13 points in the first half as Presbyterian (0-1) was staying within reach, but the deficit was too much to overcome.
The Blue Hose pulled to within seven points during the second half, but Charlotte put them away with a strong finish that included another Folkes slam.
Following the big scoring days from Braswell and Thomas, new graduate student forward Giancarlo Rosado poured in 16 points in his Niner debut. A strong first half led redshirt sophomore forward Rich Rolf to a 15-point day, and key returner Nik Graves scored 13 points.
“Everyone gets along well, that was right from the jump,” Braswell, whose 18 points included a team-best 5-of-6 from 3-point range, said in the postgame news conference. “Everybody loves being around each other, and in order for us to be a good team, we’re going to need that off the court. Not just on the court.”
Niner women defeat Presbyterian in opener
Charlotte opened the Tomekia Reed era victorious.
The new women’s basketball head coach won her first game at the helm, as the 49ers jumped in front early in their 77-63 win over Presbyterian on Monday evening inside Halton Arena.
Junior guard Hayleigh Breland, a transfer following two seasons with Reed at Jackson State, was Charlotte’s leading scorer with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Fifth-year center Jayla Kelly, who previously played at Missouri and Central Florida, made 5 of 7 shots in a 12-point performance.
“I am still hungry to be successful,” Reed said. “I’m hungry for us to make a name for ourselves. I’m hungry to take this program to the top. Our players are as well, and that’s our driving force every day. That’s the work ethic that our staff and I have: We’re not going to let up.”
Up next?
Charlotte men’s basketball travels to Logan, Utah, for a matchup against Utah State at 4 p.m. Saturday; while the women’s team returns to Halton Arena to host Wake Forest at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
This story was originally published November 4, 2024 at 10:15 PM.
