Getting even: Charlotte avenges loss to Temple at home

CHARLOTTE ATHLETICS

Nik Graves scored 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting for Charlotte in the 49ers' 78-72 win against Temple in an AAC game Feb. 19 at Halton Arena.

The Charlotte 49ers got their revenge against Temple.

The 49ers (10-17, 3-11 AAC) battled to a 78-72 overtime win, outscoring the Owls 10-4 in the extra period, which avenges a Jan. 29 loss to Temple (14-13, 6-8 AAC) in double overtime. Jamal Mashburn Jr. — son of former Charlotte Hornet Jamal Mashburn — was out due to injury. Mashburn Jr. scored 34 points against the 49ers in the first meeting.

“Unfortunately for them, Mashburn didn't play tonight,” 49ers’ coach Aaron Fearne said. “You know, he's a sensational talent in our league, and you obviously want to see him out there. But I guess in preparation of playing them, they already played a few games without him and were very good. They just have other guys that step up, which they did tonight. They're really tough to contain one on one. Their coach does an excellent job of putting the guys in spots to attack angles and personnel. They're tough, they're gritty. [They’re] a very typical Philly team.”

Charlotte guard Nik Graves had another good performance with 23 points on 8-for-16 shooting. Graves, who scored 26 points in the first meeting, felt as if the shots were coming more in the rhythm of the offense, and not forced or had to be created.

“Honestly, I was being put in the right position by my teammates and coaches,” he said. “Just being at the right place at the right time. For the most part, I didn't really have to create anything. I was getting out in transition at times, and then other than that, really just knocking down open shots… I work on my game each and every day, so just having confidence and knowing that my teammates and coaches will have the confidence to knock it down, when open.”

It was the kind of performance the 49ers need from Graves every game. Fearne acknowledged that even the best athletes in the world don’t have outstanding games every time they step on the floor. But he has been pleased with Graves’ determination to perform at a high level.

“The intent to perform needs to be there,” Fearne said. “That's the big thing for me, is the intent. You just can't float through the game, or float through a part of the game. You have to have your foot on the throttle all the time to make plays and making plays is not shooting the ball every time; It's creating plays for others, It’s creating plays for us defensively, It’s the responsibility that [Graves] has. He's growing in that space, and I am really proud of him and all the guys, because I think a lot of them have made a lot of improvement.”

One area Fearne has repeatedly talked about improving is rebounding and Charlotte responded by outrebounding Temple 35-28, including 9-4 on the offensive end.

“We always talk about hitting first.” Graves said, “Being an aggressive team, and the more aggressive team – impose our will on the game. Rebounding has been a point of emphasis, really, all season, so I think tonight we really showed that we can, and we’re capable of rebounding the ball.”

Another area of improvement was at the free throw line. Charlotte was 16-for-18 compared to 26-for-35 in the first meeting. Despite a questionable call late, Fearne’s takeaway from that game was free throws.

“I felt when we played them the first time that cost us the game,” Fearne said, “not knocking down free throws down the stretch in an overtime. It hurt us, and that's what we talked about. I know everybody talks about the last call. That that stuff happens, but we had multiple opportunities to put ourselves in a better position to possibly get across the line, and we weren't just tough enough in the moment.”

Said Graves: “You’re going to have to knock it down. It is going to be a game-winning free throw.”

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