AUGUSTA, Ga. - University of North Georgia men's basketball players Mekhail Bethea and Josh Cottrell earned Peach Belt Conference Team of Academic Distinction honors Tuesday morning.

The two Nighthawks were part of an 11-player team. Georgia College had four players honored, while Flagler tied with UNG with two each. Augusta, Clayton State and Young Harris each had one.

Bethea, a sophomore from Lawrenceville, Georgia, sports a 3.44 cumulative grade point average while majoring in Political Science. Cottrell, a junior from Hayesville, N.C., has a 3.66 GPA while studying Management.

To be eligible for the team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team's events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility. The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee the program.