Week 4
at Francis Marion (3-1, 0-0)
Date: Dec. 1
Tipoff: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Florence, S.C.
Arena: Smith University Center
Series: UNG leads, 11-10
Last Meeting: FMU 83, UNG 54 (2018)
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video
at Emmanuel (4-2)
Date: Dec. 4
Tipoff: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Franklin Springs, Ga.
Arena: Shaw Athletic Center
Series: UNG leads, 7-5
Last Meeting: UNG 102, EC 92 (OT) (2017)
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video
Game Preview: The University of North Georgia men's basketball team will hit the road for a pair of games this week, kicking off Peach Belt Conference play Saturday at Francis Marion before jumping out of conference for the final time at Emmanuel Tuesday night.
Nighthawks on the Web: Links for both games, courtesy of each respective home team, can be found above. Fans can also follow the action through Twitter by following the men's basketball team (@UNGMBB).
Last Week: Ephraim Tshimanga and Shawn Hopkins each scored 23 points as North Georgia surpassed the century mark on the way to a 104-80 win over West Georgia last Tuesday night in the UNG Convocation Center.
Scouting Francis Marion: FMU is on a three game winning streak after dropping the season opener. The Patriots lead the league in points per game at 94.3 points per game, led by Ryan Davis and Kailex Stephens at 15.5 points each.
Series Versus Francis Marion: Saturday's meeting will be the 22nd all-time between Francis Marion and North Georgia in men's basketball, with UNG holding an 11-10 edge in the series. FMU won all three meetings last season, including an 83-54 victory in the quarterfinals of the PBC Tournament.
Scouting Emmanuel: Emmanuel is 4-2 on the year headed into a Saturday meeting with Lees-McRae. Four Lions average double figures with Kendrick Colvin leading the way at 21.2 points per game.
Series Versus Emmanuel: The Nighthawks lead the all-time series with Emmanuel, 7-5, and have won two straight. UNG is 2-0 in Franklin Springs but have not played there since 2005.
PBC Stats: North Georgia leads the Peach Belt Conference in offensive rebounds per game, pulling down over 15 boards on the offensive end every time out. The Nighthawks are second in the PBC in rebounds per game, just a half rebound behind UNC Pembroke. North Georgia is also atop the PBC standings in scoring defense, giving up just 67.4 points per game.Shawn Hopkins leads the league in points per game, averaging 20.8 points each outing. Lanre Olatunji is third in the conference in rebounds per game at 8.8 boards per contest. The junior is also fifth in the league in field goal percentage.
National Stats: The Nighthawks are 13th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game, just five offensive boards behind Nova Southeastern for the national lead. North Georgia is also 16th in the nation in rebounds per game and 14th in assist-turnover ratio. Ephraim Tshimanga is No. 10 in the nation in steals per game, taking the ball away over three times per outing. Tshimanga is the UNG career leader in total steals.
Nighthawk of the Week: Ephraim Tshimanga was named the Einstein's Bagels Nighthawk of the Week by the UNG Athletic Department last Monday. Tshimanga shared team scoring honors with 23 points and rounded out a solid box line with six rebounds, six assists and three steals.
PBC Openers: North Georgia is 3-2 in the last five PBC openers, falling last year to FMU in the conference opener.
