DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Redshirt-junior Shaquan Cantrell picked a great time for his first double-double of the season as he posted 25 points and 12 rebounds helping lead the University of North Georgia men's basketball team past Young Harris, 91-86, Monday evening at Memorial Hall. The Nighthawks improve to 11-9 on the year with a 7-4 mark atop the Western Division of the Peach Belt Conference.
 
The Mountain Lions controlled the game early, leading by as many as nine points at the midpoint of the first half. UNG would go on a 17-9 run after the under-eight-minute media timeout though to close the gap to just one heading into the half.

Young Harris led 37-36 at the half, but saw the Nighthawks use a 10-2 run to open up a 66-58 lead on a Roderick English three-pointer from the left side with 10:04 left. However, the Mountain Lions erased the deficit with nine unanswered points to take a 67-66 lead on a layup with 7:50 to go. 

The teams traded the lead back and forth for the next two minutes before North Georgia took the lead for good at 72-71 on Cantrell layup with 5:58 remaining. That started the first of eight straight points by the Nighthawks and a 14-5 run as UNG took a 84-76 lead on a Dominy running jumper with 1:51 to go. 
 
NOTES
- Cantrell's double-double led the Nighthawks in both points and rebounds. Ephraim Tshimanga added 15 points with nine assists and eight rebounds, just one assist and two rebounds shy of a triple-double.
 
- Ross Morkem and Tyler Dominy were both in double figure scoring as well with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

- Ben Waterhouse led the Mountain Lions with 19 points, while Bjorn Walker picked up a double double with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
 
- The win snaps a three-game losing streak in the series for UNG. The Mountain Lions still hold the all-time advantage in the series, 8-5. North Georgia will meet YHC again in the regular season finally on the north side of Blood Mountain on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
 
STAT OF THE DAY
88 – To say the game was physical would be an understatement as a combined 88 points were scored in the paint with UNG having the slight edge down low, 46-42.
 
NEXT UP
UNG will hit the road on Wednesday, traveling to Columbus State for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Cougars.