With the game tied in overtime, Yellow Jacket sophomore forward Glen Rice Jr. stepped to the free-throw line with the game tied at 74 and only three seconds remaining. Rice missed both and the game went to a second overtime period where Charlotte outscored Tech 12-9 to steal an 86-83 victory. The 49ers led by as many as nine points in the second overtime before Tech went on a furious comeback. Rice Jr's desperation three point heave missed long leaving the Jackets to ponder what might have been.
Junior guard Iman Shumpert turned in one of the best performances of his career stuffing the stat sheet with 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Shumpert made eight of nineteen shots including six of ten from behind the arc. He made big basket after big basket coming down the stretch and was Tech's undisputed leader on both ends of the floor chipping in with a team high four steals as well. He accomplished all of that while navigating much of the last overtime with four fouls.
Glen Rice Jr. chipped in 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists but sadly it will be his free throw shooting that most remember from this game. Rice Jr. was 0-4 from the line including the two misses with three seconds remaining in the first overtime. Free throw shooting as a team hurt the Yellow Jackets as they finished just 12-19 from the line. Conversely Charlotte made 26-33 shots from the charity stripe.
Charlotte was led by junior Derrio Green's 21 points and 9 assists. Green was only 5-20 from the field but was a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. The 49ers won the rebounding battle 41-31 and also added 9 offensive rebounds to their total.
It is a stinging loss for Paul Hewitt's club who falls to 7-6 on the season. The Yellow Jackets will open the ACC portion of their schedule Saturday at Boston College.