- Nik Graves dominates with 18 points and 6 rebounds for Charlotte
- 49ers erase 11-point halftime deficit in dramatic second-half surge
- Giancarlo Rosado adds 18 points with 83% free throw accuracy
- Charlotte to face 5th-seeded FAU in critical second-round matchup
- Rice's Kellen Amos scores team-high 15 points in losing effort
In a stunning AAC Tournament opener, the 13th-seeded Charlotte 49ers (11-21) overcame significant odds to defeat Rice 64-61 at Denton's UNT Coliseum. The victory sets up a Thursday showdown with fifth-seeded Florida Atlantic as the tournament shifts to Fort Worth.
Charlotte's first-half struggles saw them trailing 34-23 at halftime, with Rice appearing to control momentum. However, the 49ers mounted a 7-0 second-half run capped by Kylan Blackmon's clutch three-pointer, narrowing the gap to 49-48 with 6:21 remaining. Blackmon would finish with 16 points, 12 coming in the decisive second half.
The game turned on Charlotte's superior efficiency at the charity stripe, where they converted 78% of attempts compared to Rice's 65%. Giancarlo Rosado's 10-of-12 free throw performance proved particularly crucial in the tight contest.
This upset follows a growing trend in mid-major conference tournaments where lower-seeded teams win 38% of opening-round matchups according to NCAA data. The single-elimination format creates pressure-cooker environments that often reward experienced guards like Graves, who played 37 minutes in the victory.
Denton's central Texas location provided a neutral-site advantage for both programs, continuing the AAC's strategy of rotating early tournament games through regional hubs. Local businesses reported a 22% increase in game-day revenue compared to regular season contests, underscoring the economic impact of hosting postseason basketball.
Charlotte now faces their toughest test against FAU, who won both regular-season meetings by an average of 14 points. The 49ers will need to improve their three-point defense after allowing Rice to shoot 42% from beyond the arc.