DAHLONEGA - A quintet of University of North Georgia men's basketball players finished in double figures as the Nighthawks snapped a six-game losing stretch dating back to the start of the 2019 calendar year with an 80-65 win over Clayton State Wednesday night at the UNG Convocation Center.

The Nighthawks jumped out to a 20-point lead early on at 33-13 before Clayton State clawed back into the game, cutting the lead down to as few as six in the first half. The lead never got closer than that as UNG answered every Laker push with a run of their own to earn the home victory.

NOTES
- With the win and the women's victory, Wednesday night was the first basketball sweep of a doubleheader inside the UNG Convocation Center.

- Shawn Hopkins led all scorers with 16 points, while Jack Howard came off the bench and added 14. Ephraim Tshimanga was an assist away from a double-double, scoring 12 points and nine dimes, and De'Undra Singleton contributed 12. Zach Cottrell was the final Nighthawk with double digit points, putting up 11.

- North Georgia assisted on 17 of 26 made baskets, while the Lakers had just seven assists.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will hit the road again, traveling to Georgia College on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.