Green: Let's win for seniors

Charlotte guard Derrio Green admits to do doing some scoreboard watching during the 49ers’ 68-48 loss on Wednesday at Xavier.


Green, gesturing to the scoreboard after the game, said: “I kept checking the score up there to see what (Saint Joseph’s was) were doing.”

Green was making sure Saint Joseph’s -- Charlotte’s opponent Saturday at 2 p.m. in Halton Arena -- was getting beat, too. And since the Hawks eventually fell to Richmond, that gives Saturday's game between two of the league’s worst teams some unlikely intrigue: The winner between the 49ers (10-19, 2-13 Atlantic 10) and the Hawks (8-21, 3-12) takes the 12th and final spot in the league’s tournament.

Had Saint Joseph’s upset the Spiders, the Hawks would have clinched the 12th spot with Charlotte’s loss against the Musketeers. As it is, Saint Joseph’s and Charlotte will play for the right to travel Tuesday to the fifth-seed -- either George Washington, Duquesne or Rhode Island -- for a first-round tournament game. The tournament moves to Atlantic City, N.J., next weekend.

The 49ers will also send off seniors An’Juan Wilderness and Charles Dewhurst in their final home game. A good performance for them -- which could translate into a tournament berth -- gives the day an added significance to Green.

“I’m going to give everything I’ve got (for the seniors),” said Green. “I’m not trying to be cocky or anything, but we’re doing it for our two seniors. We’re going to send them out on a high note. I feel like we’re going to be in the A-10 tournament.”

Wilderness and Dewhurst have both battled injuries throughout their careers, but have been among the 49ers’ steadier players this season (although Dewhurst missed the first several games with knee and finger injuries).

“Knock on wood, (Wilderness) has been healthy all season to this point,” said coach Alan Major. “Dewhurst has continued to keep coming back with unbelievable will, something that I don’t know if I would have the courage to do what he’s been through.

“The conference tournament is huge for us to achieve, but we want to give as much back to these (seniors) who have given so much to our program.”

-- The status of point guard Jamar Briscoe (back) for Saturday is being closely monitored. Briscoe was injured Tuesday in practice and didn’t play against Xavier. But he's expected to play against Saint Joseph's.