Javarris Barnett scored a game-high 22 points and Chris Braswell chipped in with 13 points as Charlotte used a strong inside game to knock off defending Atlantic 10 Conference champion Richmond 75-70 in the league opener for both teams.
Charlotte (8-5, 1-0) outscored Richmond 50-20 inside the paint.
Cedrick Lindsay scored 19 points and Kendall Anthony had 18 for Richmond (9-7, 0-1), which is returning just one starter from last year's Sweet 16 team.
The 49ers led by 11 points with 2:37 left, but the Spiders cut the lead to two on a three-point play by Anthony. Braswell answered with a pretty move inside and then grabbed the rebound on the other end to help seal the victory and snap Charlotte's three-game losing streak.
The Spiders built an 11-point lead early but the 49ers battled back to tie the game at 34-34 at halftime, scoring 32 points in the paint.
