Local Sports

CHARLOTTE, NC -

49ers Roast Pfeiffer, 122-85, In Exhibition Opener
Andersen Nets 24; Coley 20; Harris Has 13 Assists
Nov. 6, 2008

Halton Arena - Charlotte likes to play uptempo basketball and fans at Halton Arena got their fill of it, Thursday night as the 49ers toppled Pfeiffer, 122-85, in an exhibition opener.

The numbers: Seven 49ers scored in double figures, led by junior Ian Andersen's 24 off the bench and senior Charlie Coley, III's 20 points. Senior Lamont Mack posted a 16-point; 11-rebound double-double while junior point guard DiJuan Harris added an 11-point; 13-assist double-double. Then there was junior center Phil Jones, who blocked 11 shots.

In all, the 49ers shot 59% for the game, including 57% from three-point range, where Andersen lit it up with 8-of-12 threes on his way to game-high scoring honors.

"He's such a worker," head coach Bobby Lutz said of his junior shooter. "The more he works, the better he gets. He's a terrific shooter and if they leave him open, we love him taking the shot."

The 49ers hit 16 three-pointers, with Lamont Mack (3-of-5) and Javarris Barnett (3-of-3) hitting three, apiece.
Coley, meanwhile was a workhorse down low, scoring 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Back-up point guard Charles Dewhurst came in and added 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and passed out six assists.

The all out energy, that saw Harris diving into press row and crashing to the floor on multiple occasions, spurred the effort in the exhibition opener.

"We had a couple great speakers come out and talk to us in Jay Bilas and Lee Rose and they spoke to us about playing every game like it's your last," said Harris. "In everything we do, that's how -- lay everything out on the line, game in and game out."

Adding the 49ers three preseason exhibition games in Canada over Labor Day Weekend, the 49ers have busted the 100-point mark three times in four games.

NOTES:
Harris did crash to the floor during the first half after converting a driving layup with contact. His knee hit the floor hard and then his calf cramped up, leaving Harris against the goal support while play continued. Lutz was given a technical for arguing about the play's no-call. Harris went to the sideline to stretch out his calf and did not return until the second half.

Lamont Mack nailed a pair of three-pointers in the first minute of the second half.
Fans had to be pleased with the play of sophomore Gaby Ngoundjo, who hit both his shots, connected on 4-of-6 free throws and finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds in 12 minutes of play.

Charlotte led 59-44 at the half. They stormed to a quick 18-point lead, 25-7 in the first seven minutes but Pfeiffer closed to within seven, 46-39 with just under 3:00 minutes to play. Ngoundjo scored six of his eight points in the closing minutes as the 49ers pushed the lead back to double-figures.