DAHLONEGA - The University of North Georgia men's basketball team fell Friday night in their home opener to Union, 72-59, on the opening day of the Ross Morkem Memorial inside the UNG Convocation Center.

Both teams traded baskets throughout the entire first half with neither team leading by more than six points through the first 20 minutes. The Bulldogs opened up the second half on an 11-2 run to stretch their lead to 13 with 14:19 to play, 44-31.

North Georgia clawed back into the game, trimming the lead to six in three minutes, but the Bulldogs pulled away again and kept the Nighthawks further than eight points away the rest of the contest to take the win.

NOTES
- Frank Champion scored a team-high 14 points on the night, while Kody Shubert had 11 to go with 12 rebounds. Giancarlo Bastianoni was the top Nighthawk off the bench with 10.

- North Georgia doubled up the Bulldogs in the paint, 40-20.

- Union was 17-for-24 from the free throw line, compared to 5-of-8 for UNG.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will face Lee in the final game of the classic tomorrow afternoon with a scheduled tip time of 6 p.m.