YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. - After trailing by nine early in the second half, the University of North Georgia men's basketball team flipped the script and then held on to defeat Young Harris, 89-88, Wednesday night.

The Mountain Lions led for nearly the entirety of the first half with UNG leading for just 16 seconds in the opening 20 minutes. YHC stretched a five point lead at halftime out to nine in the first three minutes of the second half before the Nighthawks went on a 10-2 run to cut into the lead.

UNG and Young Harris went back-and-forth trading baskets with the home team clinging to a lead before Zach Brown hit a layup with 6:40 to go, giving the Nighthawks the lead, one which they would not relinquish despite a furious comeback by YHC in the final 90 seconds.

NOTES
- Zez Steeple led all scorers with 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting. This marks the third time this season the senior has scored 20 or more points in a game.

- KJ Jenkins contributed 22 points off the bench, while Ephraim Tshimanga had another close call with a triple-double, putting up 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

- Along the way, Tshimanga surpassed 500 career rebounds when he pulled down his third rebound of the night early in the first half.

- North Georgia went 16-for-20 from the free throw line, while Young Harris went just 20-for-33.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks hit the road again on Saturday when they go to USC Aiken for another league matchup. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.