CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — In a marathon American Athletic Conference clash defined by relentless offense and critical defensive stands, the Charlotte 49ers outlasted the Wichita State Shockers 104-100 in double overtime Saturday night at Halton Arena.

The game, witnessed by a crowd of 2,673, saw 10 lead changes and was tied on 16 occasions, with neither team leading by more than seven points at any stage. It was a showcase of individual brilliance and collective resilience, ultimately decided by Charlotte’s ability to capitalize on late-game opportunities and a monumental performance from guard Dezayne Mingo.

Mingo, a junior from Hamilton, Canada, was the orchestrator of Charlotte’s victory, playing 37 minutes and finishing with 26 points and 10 assists. His command of the game was most evident in the extra periods, where he scored 11 points and dished out three assists, consistently breaking down the Wichita State defense to create shots for himself and his teammates.

Wichita State, which fell to 9-6 overall, was led by the backcourt duo of Kenyon Giles and Karon Boyd. Giles, a guard from Chesapeake, Virginia, poured in a game-high 27 points over 47 grueling minutes. Boyd, a Concord, North Carolina, native playing in his home state, added 21 points and logged 45 minutes. Their efforts nearly offset a Charlotte attack that was more efficient from the floor and significantly more productive from the free-throw line.

The Shockers built a 41-36 halftime lead behind Giles’ hot shooting, but Charlotte responded with a 44-point second half, fueled by Damoni Harrison’s scoring burst. Harrison finished with 22 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with five seconds remaining in regulation that tied the score at 80 and forced the first overtime.

The first overtime ended deadlocked at 91, setting the stage for the decisive second extra period. The critical sequence unfolded in the final 18 seconds of double overtime with Charlotte clinging to a 100-98 lead. Wichita State’s Karon Boyd was fouled and made the first of two free throws. After he missed the second, he secured his own offensive rebound and scored a putback to tie the game at 100 with eight seconds left.

Charlotte immediately inbounded to Mingo, who raced upcourt and found Arden Conyers spotted up in the corner. Conyers, who had 11 points, drained a 3-pointer with one second on the clock to put the 49ers ahead for good at 103-100. He was fouled on the play and made the ensuing free throw to provide the final margin.

Beyond the star guards, Charlotte’s interior presence was pivotal. Anton Bonke, the 7-foot-2 center from Port Vila, Vanuatu, dominated the paint with 16 points, 3 blocks, and a game-high 5 offensive rebounds, several leading to crucial second-chance points. The 49ers blocked seven shots as a team and outscored Wichita State 20-12 off turnovers.

Despite the loss, Wichita State won the battle inside, scoring 44 points in the paint to Charlotte’s 36 and grabbing 19 offensive rebounds. The Shockers shot 48% from the field but were hampered by a season-low 3 assists, highlighting a sometimes-isolated offensive approach.

The victory improved Charlotte’s record to 7-8 and provided a significant boost to its conference standing. The 49ers, who were projected by Interstat’s ELO system to have only a 28.2% chance of winning, defied the odds with a gritty performance.

Both teams return to conference play Wednesday. Charlotte travels to face Texas-San Antonio, while Wichita State returns home to host Rice. The teams are scheduled for a rematch in Wichita on Feb. 4.