Watch the game live here on Canada West TV.

The Matchup

 
The Charlotte 49ers have played one season under Head Coach Mark Price. The four-time NBA all-star signed a five-year contract to run the basketball program in March of 2015. The 49ers went 10-17 in the 2015-16 season in Conference USA. Price has taken over a program that's been to the NCAA Tournament 11 times, making it all the way to the Final Four in 1977.


 
UBC is coming off a fifth place finish in the CIS for 2015-16, which saw them play host to the CIS Final 8 Championship. With four of his starting five returning for 2016-17, Head Coach Kevin Hanson is looking for the Thunderbirds to contend for the CIS crown this season and be a powerhouse in Canada West.
 

Last Action

 
The 49ers last game was in mid-March when they were defeated 79-61 by Middle Tennessee in the Conference USA Tournament quarterfinals. Charlotte was actually leading the game at halftime before giving up a 21-2 run early in the second half. After the game Price told local media that Charlotte would "continue to improve and add pieces" and he was "excited for the future of 49ers basketball".


 
UBC is fresh off a whirlwind trip to Taiwan, which saw them play five games in five nights at the International Top University Basketball Tournament. Despite having a roster of only eight players the Thunderbirds cruised to an unbeaten record in the tournament, topping some very strong university teams from Taiwan, Japan, China, and Korea.
 

By The Numbers

 
6 – the number of 49ers that averaged double digits in scoring last season. Charlotte is a very good jump shooting team that boasts a balanced offence.
 
26-10-12-8 – the number of points, rebounds, assists, and steals that UBC point guard Phil Jalalpoor dropped on Japan in the final game of the Thunderbirds' run at the ITUB Tournament. A heavy off-season training program has the German-born point guard poised to take his play to another level in 2016-17.


 

Players To Watch

 
Charlotte – Braxton Ogbueze (G, #1) – it will be hard for basketball fans not to watch the 6'1" senior. Ogbueze led the 49ers in minutes played (1131), points per game (14.5), and three-pointers made (109) last season.
 
UBC – Justin McChesney (C, #12) – the highly recruited 6'10" Prince Rupert Rainmaker was a BC High School basketball star. He will make his Thunderbird debut against the Charlotte 49ers.
 

Look out below!! @Conormorgan09 has landed in Tapei! @UBCTBirds lead Tsinghua 47-34 at the half! #TBirdsInTaiwan pic.twitter.com/3A1jFdOJzm

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) July 13, 2016

 

Coach's Take

 
"I think basketball fans will be in for a treat," says UBC Head Coach Kevin Hanson.  "Both teams are fast and athletic and being that it's still August the teams offensive games will be at a higher level than their defense. I expect a high-tempo battle between two good teams who like to keep the pedal on the floor."