The Davidson Wildcats’ men’s basketball team hunted the three-ball early and often in the 40th edition of the battle for the Hornets’ Nest, connecting frequently on the way to a 62-55 victory over the Charlotte 49ers on Tuesday night.
For the first time in the cross-county rivalry’s 51-game history, both teams came in undefeated, and the Wildcats (3-0) extended their early-season streak with another victory against the 49ers (2-1) — marking three consecutive victories against Aaron Fearne’s Charlotte team.
But the evening wasn’t without late-game drama, as the Wildcats choked away an early 18-point lead as Aaron Fearne’s 49ers cut the lead down to two with less than 30 seconds to play.
Charlotte guard Damoni Harrison swished a 3-pointer with 30 seconds on the clock to cut the Wildcats’ lead to two points, but as it was for much of the second half, the 49ers could not convert at the free-throw line and couldn’t connect when it mattered most.
Charlotte missed nine free throws (11 of 20) on the night, including missing eight in the second half, and what felt like nearly every attempt late in the action.
What was an ugly opening half of basketball, which featured both teams combining for 6 of 24 from the field in the game’s first 10 minutes, saw the visiting Wildcats catch fire from beyond the arc, with leading scorers Hunter Adam and Parker Friedrichsen tying Charlotte’s first-half total (19 points) and pouring in 30 total points on 63% shooting from beyond the arc.
Davidson led for nearly 39 minutes of action, answering each Charlotte comeback attempt run with a flurry of its own, quieting a thin Halton Arena crowd of 3,712. The 49ers had plenty of opportunities late in the game, but self-inflicted wounds, missed free throws, and late-game turnovers cost Fearne’s group.
And with the game hanging in the balance, Davidson’s Adam took an ill-advised 3-pointer, rather than holding the ball or dishing to a teammate for potential game-winning free throws.
But Adam did what he knows best and pulled up from beyond the arc, sinking the 49ers’ comeback attempts and putting the Wildcats up five and the game out of reach.
This story will be updated.