DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The University of North Georgia men's basketball team used their most impressive half of basketball to outscore Augusta 58-46 in the second half of play and hand the Jaguars (7-2, 0-1 PBC) their second loss of the season, 102-93, late Friday evening at Memorial Hall. The Nighthawks advance to 5-5 on the season and are 1-0 in the Peach Belt Conference after the league opening win.
 
The two teams went back and forth for the first 10 minutes of play as neither was able to extend a lead by more than two possessions. The Nighthawks were able to stretch out a comfortable lead near the eight-minute mark of the first half as a Shaquan Cantrel layup was followed by a steal by Denzell Hosch with a flip to Cantrell who flushed it home to give UNG an 11-point advantage, 32-21, with 7:47 left in the period. The Jaguars were able to turn the corner just a few minutes later though starting a 10-0 run at the 5:37 mark that would lead to a tied game with less than three minutes to go and Augusta would finish the half stronger taking a three-point lead into intermission, 47-44.
 
Much like the first half the second half opened with back and forth play but the Nighthawks were able to take the lead for good at the 15:15 mark with a layup by Ephraim Tshimanga. The Jaguars would not go quietly however as AU pulled within a bucket with just 3:20 remaining. Ebo Smith would drain a three-pointer however to extend the lead back to five and North Georgia would never look back finishing the game on a 12-8 run to pull out the 102-93 win.
 
NOTES
- Four Nighthawks scored in double figures on the night with Shaquan Cantrell leading the way with 25 points. Roderick English was the top rebounder on the night, pulling in six boards.
 
- Augusta's Keshun Sherrill led all scorers with an eye-popping 42 points on the night.
 
- The victory is the second for UNG over Augusta in the past three years but just the fifth overall as the Jaguars still hold a 11-5 advantage all-time against North Georgia.
 
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks wrap up the three-game homestand on Monday, Dec. 19 hosting Lander. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall.