CHARLOTTE, NC -- Mike Thorne Jr. and Pierria Henry each had 17 points on Friday night to help lift Charlotte over East Tennessee State 80-75.

Thorne's offensive rebound and layup at 7:50 in the first half put the 49ers up 21-18 and they never trailed again despite a strong effort by Kinard Gadsen-Gilliard, who came off the bench to lead the Buccaneers with 31 points and five rebounds.

Charlotte out-rebounded the Buccaneers 45 to 35 and had 12 steals and four blocked shots. The 49ers led 34-31 at the half and extended their lead to seven on a pair of free-throws by Terence Williams, a dunk by Thorne and a layup by Willie Clayton.

East Tennessee State out-shot Charlotte from the field 42.6 percent to 39.7 percent, and hit seven of 19 3-pointers compared with Charlotte's two of 17. But the Buccaneers committed 29 fouls and Charlotte scored 28 points from the line.