Athletics

Terrence Williams’ stick-back with one second on the clock gave the Charlotte 49ers (5-1) a 63-61 win over 13th-ranked Michigan (4-2), the 2013 national runner-up, as the men’s basketball team captured the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Title.

The 49ers 61-17 win at Morehead State (3-9) in the final game of the inaugural season had highlight upon highlight for the first-year program.
 Charlotte (5-6) scored on runs of 70 yards, 68 yards, 50 yards and 51 yards, connected on a TD pass of 33 yards and had a 70-yard interception return on their way to the season-ending victory.  Two touchdown drives were one-play strikes.  Two others were two plays.  Those four touchdowns came in a combined 81 seconds.

The Charlotte 49ers men’s soccer team led Conference USA in home attendance during the regular season, and nationally, the 49ers ranked 12th for accumulated attendance and 14th in average attendance.
Charlotte’s largest crowd this season was against Wake Forest on Oct. 1 with 2,872 in attendance.  In Conference USA play, Charlotte’s largest crowd was against South Carolina on Sept. 27 with 2,516.  The match against Wake Forest tied for third on the all-time attendance list while South Carolina ranks sixth.

The Charlotte 49ers Athletic Foundation raised a record $191,000 at its 10th annual “Let Me Play” luncheon to surpass its goal and eclipse the $1 million mark overall in monies raised.
The event, chaired by Laura Schulte, president of Eastern regional banking, Wells Fargo and Co., exceeded its goal of $175,000. In 10 years, the event has raised $1.07 million dollars.

Tyler Gibson’s penalty kick in the 88th minute gave the 49ers men’s soccer team its first Conference USA Tournament Championship with a 1-0 win against reigning tournament champ Tulsa. The team received one of the 16 national seeds in the NCAA tournament and will have a first-round bye.
“It’s amazing and feels great.  I am proud of the way the guys played over the last three games.  A lot of heart and courage,” said head coach Kevin Langan.

Faculty and staff members can receive up to four free tickets for the Nov. 15 men’s basketball contest against Elon University.
Ticket pickup is under way; interested employees can get their free tickets at the 49ers Athletic Ticket Office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays through Thursday or before noon on Friday.  A valid University faculty/staff ID is required.
The game starts at 4 p.m., Friday, in Halton Arena.

 The Charlotte 49ers rallied in the second half to take the lead only to see Wesley College return the favor with 14 fourth-quarter points to post a 35-28 victory in the 49ers final home game of the inaugural season.
Charlotte (4-6), facing its fifth straight nationally ranked team, suffered its fourth straight loss.
The 49ers were undone by three turnovers on offense and 10-of-17 Wesley third-down conversions on defense.

 The 49ers were able to put up plenty of offense but struggled to contain Coastal Carolina’s high-powered attack in falling to the ranked Chanticleers 50-25 at Brooks Stadium in Conway.

The UNC Charlotte Department of Music will field a marching band in fall 2015. It will augment the drum line that has performed at home football games this fall.
The introduction of a full marching band – complete with brass instruments, woodwinds and a color guard – will coincide with the 49ers’ ascent into the elite Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA.

Recast as an open house, “A-Cone-A-Fair” makes a special return from 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, throughout the Cone University Center to commemorate the building’s 50th anniversary.  The event will highlight Cone Center’s history of student dedication, featuring historical exhibits and displays alongside the current student services that reside in the building.
“A-Cone-A-Fair” will include: