DAHLONEGA – Malik Hardy led four Nighthawks in double-figures with a team-high 23 points, but the University of North Georgia men's basketball team fell 88-83 on Saturday afternoon at home in Peach Belt Conference action. 

Hardy tallied 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor while Frank Champion added his second career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. 

Young Harris would stretch its lead to 13 on multiple occasions, but the Nighthawks responded each time with Hardy knotting the game at 83 with 1:16 to play to pull the game even for the first time on the night.

A YHC layup with 47 seconds to play gave the Mountains Lions the lead back for good, and UNG's ensuing two shots on the next offensive possession came up empty.

NOTES 
- Josh Cottrell came off the bench to score 17 points highlighted by 5-of-8 from behind the arch. Kody Shubert pitched in with 15 and a season-best five assists. 

- UNG's 83 points scored and 13 made three-pointers were each season highs for the Nighthawks. 

- YHC's Alphonso Willis led all scorers missing a triple-double by only three rebounds, tallying 31 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. 

- The Nighthawks fall to 2-7 overall and 2-6 in PBC play, while Young Harris improves to 5-6, 5-5.

NEXT UP 
The Nighthawks will host Augusta on Monday (Feb. 15) at 8:00 p.m. inside the UNG Convocation Center.