DAHLONEGA - The University of North Georgia men's basketball team fought back from a deficit that got to as many as 16, cutting the lead to three on multiple occasions, but could get no closer as the Nighthawks fell to Francis Marion Saturday afternoon, 76-69.

UNG held an early 5-4 lead after hitting the first basket of the contest, but that was the last time UNG saw the lead as FMU went on a quick 6-0 run to earn the lead.

The Patriot lead hovered between eight and 12 points for the majority of the contest before Francis Marion seemed to have the game in hand with just over nine minutes left and a 16 point lead. North Georgia fought back, going on a 17-4 run to cut the lead to 66-63 with just over three minutes to play. The Patriots were able to fend off the effort on multiple occasions in a one-possession game, escaping Dahlonega with the win.

NOTES
- Frank Champion led North Georgia in his first collegiate start, netting a double-double of 14 points and 12 boards. Kody Shubert and Malik Hardy also added 14 apiece.

- FMU's Langston Gaither and Holden Redparth scored 28 and 26 points, respectively, to lead all scorers.

- UNG was just 3-for-19 from three point range, while the Patriots shot 8-for-17 from distance.

NEXT UP
North Georgia travels to Columbus State on Wednesday to try and snap the three-game losing streak.