CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Joey Chealey scored 29 points, two off his career high, and Cameron Johnson added 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting and Charleston beat Charlotte 81-72 on Saturday night.
Charleston took control of the game when Grant Riller accounted for seven points with a 3-pointer, layup and a jumper at the beginning and end of an 11-0 run in a two-minute span that put the Cougars up 17-7 with 11:43 before halftime.
The 49ers continued to trail by double digits until the game's final three minutes. Najee Gavin led Charlotte (1-2) with 19 points, Andrien White had 17 on 6-of-9 shooting and nine rebounds and Jon Davis had 16 points.