Charlotte, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team is going on a foreign trip to British Columbia, Canada, August 10-18. The 49ers will play three games while on the trip against Canadian Colleges.



"I'm excited that we get 10 extra practices plus several games," second-year Charlotte 49ers coach Mark Price said. "It will be a fun trip for the guys, give them time to bond together. It's exactly what we need since are a relatively young team. This is a great way to get a jump start on the season."



On August 11, Charlotte plays the University of British Columbia. Then, on August 12, Charlotte plays Trinity Western University. The 49ers conclude their trip with a game against the University of Victoria, August 15. All the games will be played at 7 pm Pacific time.



Coach Mark Price and Charlotte 49ers men's basketball program returns six letterwinners and three starters off last year's team led by guards senior Braxton Ogbueze and sophomore Jon Davis and Andrien White , who both were named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team. Ogbueze led the 49ers in scoring last season at 14.5 points per game. He tallied seven games with at least 20 points including scoring 30 points in the 49ers road win at Rice, March 3. Davis finished third on the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game. He led the 49ers in assists with 154 on the season. Davis earned Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors twice. White averaged 10.7 points per game. He connected on a school freshman record 67 threes last year. He also earned Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors twice.



Joining Davis, Ogbueze and White as returning letterwinners are senior forwards Reid Aube and Anthony Vanhook and redshirt junior center Benas Griciunas . Aube saw action in a career-high 26 games last season while making his first career start in the 49ers road win at Appalachian State, December 19. He grabbed a career-high six boards in the Conference USA Tournament against Middle Tennessee. Vanhook averaged 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last year. He scored in double-figures eight times and he nearly recorded a triple-double with 10 points, eight assists and seven rebounds at East Carolina, November 16. Griciunas scored in double-figures in the 49ers wins over Furman and Appalachian State. He also scored 11 points off the bench on the road at nationally-ranked Miami.



"It's the first look at us as a team," Ogbueze said "It'll be an interesting first look. I love it. We get a chance to throw the ball up in the air and play, get used to each other's games and build that chemistry. This is the perfect time to do it, so this is a very pivotal trip."



Joining those six returners are newcomers six-foot-seven junior forward JC Washington , six-foot-seven freshman forward Najee Garvin and six-foot-three freshman guard Quentin Jackson . Other newcomers are six-foot-seven guard Hudson Price and seven-foot-one Swedish center Lukas Bergang , who are both eligible after redshirting last season. Six-foot-six guard Austin Ajukwa , a Clemson transfer, will be eligible after the fall semester. Rounding out the newcomers are six-foot-one junior guard Corey Bias, six-foot-two freshman guard Ryan Murphy, six-foot-five freshman forward Luke Sasser and six-foot-seven freshman forward Bo Blight.



Notes: 2016-17 Season Ticket Deposits are now available for $49 each. Call 704-687-4949 to order.

