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Charlotte earns 1st bowl trip, faces Buffalo in Bahamas Bowl
Charlotte (7-5, 5-3 Conference USA) vs Buffalo (7-5, 5-3 Mid-American Conference), Dec. 20, 2 p.m. ET
LOCATION: Nassau, Bahamas
TOP PLAYERS
Charlotte: RB Benny LeMay was C-USA's second-leading rusher, averaging 102.7 ypg, and had seven 100-yard games, including three in a row to end the season. The 49ers were 5-2 when he reached triple digits.
Buffalo: RB Jaret Patterson rushed for 298 yards — the most by any FBS player this season — and a MAC-record six touchdowns in a season-ending 49-7 rout of Bowling Green. Patterson set school records with 1,626 yards rushing and 17 rushing TDs.
NOTABLE
Charlotte: The 49ers ended the season on a five-game winning streak after a 2-5 start to earn the first bowl invitation since the program restarted in 2013 and moved to FBS two years later. Behind LaMay, the 49ers have C-USA's best rushing offense, averaging 213.3 yards.
Buffalo: The Bulls won five of six down the stretch to earn their second straight bowl berth — the first time they've gone bowling back to back. Buffalo has the nation's fourth-best defense against the run, allowing 95.3 yards per game on the ground.
LAST TIME
First meeting.
BOWL HISTORY
Charlotte: First bowl in program history.
Buffalo: First appearance in the Bahamas Bowl, fourth bowl appearance in school history.
