Game 10: University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Dec. 20, 12:00 pm (EDT), Verizon Center
Tickets? Yes
TV: Fox Sports Regional
GU Radio: WSPZ-570
NCC Radio: WWBU-101.7

About the 49ers:
Location: Charlotte, NC
Enrollment: 27,251
Conference: Conference USA
2013-14 Record: 21-12
Record vs. Georgetown: 1-0
1996-97: UNCC 79, GU 67 (NCAA)
 

Georgetown's final tune-up of the 2014-15 pre-season features a team accustomed to close finishes.

The Charlotte 49ers have fought through three overtime games this season and five consecutive games where the outcome was within eight points or less. Last seen in Washington at the second game of the BB&T Classic, the 49ers have stayed to a nine man rotation, with four players in double figures that need to contribute despite some question marks on defense and free throw shooting.

The 49ers need a big game from a trio of guards. 6-5 Pierria Henry has averaged nearly 4.5 assists per game over his career at University City. His 20 points against the College of Charleston was a season high, but his overall shooting (35% from the field, 17% from 3-point range) has been disappointing to date. If Henry can drive inside, he will be more effective and be able to leverage his 82 percent effort (24-28) at the foul line this season. More consistent numbers will come from 6-1 sophomore Braxton Ogubueze, who leads the team in scoring and led the 49ers with 27 in the BB&T Classic loss to George Washington. A rotation of 6-5 Terrence Williams (7.1 ppg) and 6-5 freshman Torin Dorn (11.7), with five double figure scoring efforts in his last six games.

Charlotte remains vulnerable up front. 6-8 Willie Clayton is a solid power forward with a good shooting touch inside, but is foul-prone. 6-11 Mike Thorne Jr. is shooting 4-18 over his last three games but is capable of some big rebounding efforts, with a season high 18 boards in a win over UNC-Asheville. In his last three, Thorne is averaging just over three per game. Where the 49ers have depth at guard, they remain lean up front and cannot afford sustained foul trouble.

Georgetown remains on the precipice of a blowout win this season, but until D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera can get out of his December slump, the 49ers figure to keep things close early. DSR is shooting only 20 percent from the field over the last three games (6-30). The hoyas will look to a better scoring effort from its starters, who only scored 34 points in Georgetown's win over radford, and another productive effort from its freshmen off the bench.

Keys to the game:

• Rest or Rust: Georgetown is seven days removed from action, while Charlotte is 48 hours past its last game. Will it matter?
• Turnovers: At nearly 15 turnovers per game, Georgetown must not give Charlotte easy opportunities to stay close.
• Depth: The 49ers go nine deep, but not much more. Georgetown could see as many as 12 get into the scoring column in this one.

Charlotte's last trip to Verizon Center proved illustrative, where George Washington scored 44 points in the paint and pulled away for the win. Georgetown would do well to follow a similar approach.