CLEMSON, S.C. - Leemire Goldwire scored 21 points to lead Charlotte to an 82-72 victory over No. 18 Clemson on Wednesday night, the 49ers' first win over a ranked team in nearly three years.

Charlotte's Charlie Coley, left, and teammate Charles Dewhurst react after extending their lead against Clemson during the second half of their basketball game in Clemson, S.C., Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. Charlotte won, 82-72. (AP Photo/Patrick Collard)

Charlotte (9-5) lost all of a 12-point lead in the second half, but outscored the Tigers 13-3 over the final 4:23.

The 49ers hadn't beaten a Top 25 team since defeating No. 18 Cincinnati 91-90 on Feb. 5, 2005.

They weren't expected to chalk up a victory over Clemson (12-3), which came off a thrilling 90-88 overtime loss Sunday night to No. 1 North Carolina.

Maybe it was coming so close against the Tar Heels. Or maybe it was the nonconference opponent in Charlotte, but the Tigers did not have the same flash they showed a few days earlier.

The exception was forward Trevor Booker, who led Clemson with a career-high 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

The 49ers appeared to have the game in hand when Charles Dewhurst's driving basket putting them ahead 49-37 with 16:22 to go.

Clemson scratched back and tied things at 69 on K.C. Rivers' soft jumper with 4:23 left.

The rally seemed to tire out the Tigers, though, and the 49ers took advantage.

Dewhurst hit the go-ahead free throw and Goldwire added a 3-pointer.

Goldwire had 10 rebounds.

The Charlotte fans who made the trip to Littlejohn Coliseum broke into an "overrated" chant as the final seconds ticked off.

Charlotte heads into Atlantic 10 play with a 2-2 mark against the ACC. The 49ers beat Wake Forest and lost to Georgia Tech and Maryland.

The Tigers had hoped to build off the defeat to North Carolina but they could not get going in the first half, routinely getting beat to the basket by Charlotte.

Booker had 20 of the Tigers' 30 first-half points. Booker was 6-of-7 from the field while the rest of the team was 5-of-20.

Charlotte led 28-19 after An'Juan Wilderness was left all alone near the basket, causing Clemson coach Oliver Purnell to call a timeout.

The break seemed to inspire the Tigers, who scored the next eight points to make it 28-27 with 3:41 left.

Suddenly, it was the 49ers who caught fire, finishing the half on a 13-3 run.

Goldwire led the way with six points and Charlie Coley closed the run with an inside basket that put Charlotte ahead 41-30.

Clemson star James Mays played with a heavily taped left wrist, which he fractured in pregame drills Sunday night. He was 3-of-8 from the field and had six points, half his average.

Charlie Coley added 14 points for Charlotte.