Steve Logan also scored 18 points for the Bearcats (10-3, 1-0 C-USA American), who won the league regular-season title last year before being upset by Saint Louis in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.

Cincinnati opened a 35-24 halftime advantage and was not seriously threatened over the final 20 minutes.

Demon Brown and Rodney White netted 18 points apiece for the 49ers (8-5, 0-1), who are 0-6 at the Shoemaker Center and trail the all-time series with Cincinnati, 8-3.

Charlotte has not defeated a ranked opponent since topping No. 7 Cincinnati in the semifinals of the 1999 conference tournament.

The Bearcats jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the opening 2:41 before allowing Charlotte to climb within 10-7 on Jobey Thomas' 3-pointer with just over 16 minutes to play in the first half.

A jumper by Brown pulled the 49ers within 12-9 shortly thereafter, but Cincinnati responded with a 12-0 burst to take control.

B.J. Grove started the burst with a tip-in and Antwan Jones added one of his own. Jones then added a jumper and Satterfield drilled back-to-back 3-pointers for a 24-9 lead with 11:10 remaining before the break.

Cincinnati led by as much as 20 points in the first half, and although the second half belonged to the 49ers, they never got closer than six points. They were within 53-47 with 8:43 remaining and Cincinnati's Leonard Stokes nailed a 3-pointer.

At 60-54 with just under six minutes left, Satterfield's jumper and Stokes' foul shot steadied the Bearcats.

Jones scored 11 points and Jamaal Davis had nine with eight rebounds for the Bearcats, who connected on 44 percent (25-of-57) of their shots and held a 35-34 advantage on the boards.

Charlotte shot 34.5 percent (19-of-55) despite going 6-of-18 from beyond the arc and committed 17 turnovers to 12 by Cincinnati.

The teams will meet again in North Carolina on February 1.