Jan. 4, 2006

Stats

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Curtis Withers had 25 points and 11 rebounds as Charlotte opened its first season in the Atlantic 10 Conference with an 88-80 win over Rhode Island on Wednesday night.

The 49ers (8-5, 1-0) used a 24-4 run early in the second half to break open a close game and earn their seventh win in the last nine games.

Withers was one of four Charlotte players in double figures. De'Angelo Alexander scored 21, Leemire Goldwire 20 and Mitchell Baldwin 14.

The loss was the third straight for Rhode Island (6-6, 0-1), which started the season 5-1. Dawan Robinson led the Rams with 25 points.

The teams were tied at 38 at halftime. But after Rhode Island scored the first six points of the second half, Charlotte's 24-4 run gave them a 16-point lead (64-48) with 11 minutes, 33 seconds remaining.

The Rams would get no closer than seven the rest of the game.

Most of the first half was an offensive exhibition, with both teams shooting well.

Rhode Island connected on 13-of-24 shots (54.2 percent), including 6-of-11 3-pointers, while Charlotte connected on 13-of-26 from the field (48.1 percent).

Robinson did most of the damage for the Rams, scoring 18 points in the half, including 4-of-5 3-pointers.

Goldwire kept the 49ers in the game early, scoring Charlotte's first eight points and finished with 13 in the half.