CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Pancake Thomas scored 23 points for Western Kentucky in a 83-77 loss to Charlotte Thursday night.
Jon Davis scored 23 points and Braxton Ogbueze and Austin Ajukwa combined to add another 31 for Charlotte.
The loss keeps the 49ers in ninth place with three games remaining in the regular season, and knocks the Hilltoppers into a tie with Texas-San Antonio for the seventh seed.
Charlotte had lost five of its last six games coming into the contest.
The 49ers shot 45.6 percent from the field (26 of 57), including 8 of 22 from long range.