CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, Jaehshon Thomas played a pivotal role in leading the Charlotte 49ers to a narrow 78-75 victory over Rice. Off the bench, Thomas recorded an impressive 21 points, shooting 60% from the field, including making four of six attempts from beyond the arc, and he also contributed with five of six from the free-throw line. This win improved Charlotte’s season record to 9 wins and 15 losses, with a 2-9 record in the American Athletic Conference.

In addition to Thomas’s standout performance, teammate Nik Graves supported the team with 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Nika Metskhvarishvili also made a notable contribution with 11 points, although he struggled a bit with his shooting, hitting just one out of six from three-point distance.

On the other side of the court, Trae Broadnax was the leading scorer for the Owls, also finishing with 21 points while delivering four assists. Denver Anglin and Jacob Dar each chipped in with 10 points, adding to Rice’s efforts as they aimed for victory.

The first half saw Metskhvarishvili netting nine points, but Charlotte went into the break trailing 41-35. However, in a decisive turn of events during the second half, Charlotte embarked on a 10-0 run that transformed a four-point deficit into a six-point lead at 65-59 with 7:14 left in the game. Thomas especially shined in the second half, amassing 13 critical points that bolstered his team’s performance.

Looking ahead, Charlotte is set to face Florida Atlantic in an away game on Monday, while Rice will take on North Texas at home on Tuesday.