AMERICUS, Ga. – For the third time in the last four games, No. 16 University of North Georgia lost a men's basketball came up on the short end of a Peach Belt Conference decision, falling 80-71 at Georgia Southwestern. 

After having lost just two games all season before Feb. 10, the trio of losses since then for the Nighthawks drops them to 20-5 on the year with an 11-4 record in conference play. 

Wednesday night was a tale of two halves that led to the loss for the Nighthawks.

UNG took a 33-25 lead into the halftime break, but was outscored 55-38 in the final 20 minutes. 

Sophomore guard Cayden Charles did everything he could to keep UNG in the game. The Kennesaw, Ga. native recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Charles added a block and three steals on defense in the loss.

UNG's two leading scorers, junior forward Frank Champion and sophomore guard AJ White, were limited to a combined 19 points on the night. Champion had 10 while White added 9. 

White had an impressive night on the glass despite the defeat. He corralled six rebounds for the second time in four games, which is the second-most rebounds in a game in his career for the sophomore point guard. 

However, an off shooting night in which White went 2-for-9 (22%) from the floor and 1-for-5 (20%) from downtown did not play kindly for the Nighthawks.

GSW utilized four outings of double-digit scoring in the win. All five starters recorded eight or more points, led by senior guard Jalen Johnson who dropped 20.

Johnson went 4-for-8 (50%) from beyond the arc, marking the fifth time he's hit four or more triples in a game and the first time he's done so since Jan. 24, which also came against the Nighthawks. 

In total, Johnson is averaging 20.5 points, 5.5 assists and shooting 44.4 percent from downtown against UNG this season. 

As a team, the Hurricanes were well in front of the Nighthawks in the shooting category, particularly from three-point land. After going just 3-for-11 (27%) in the first half, GSW caught fire in the second stanza, knocking down five of their eight attempted threes. 

Meanwhile, UNG was just 7-for-24 (29%) from deep land in the game. The sub-30 percent mark is the fourth lowest of the year for the Nighthawks and second lowest in a PBC game. 

UNG will look to steady itself by celebrating Senior Night in its next game. The Nighthawks will honor four seniors (Champion, Eric Jones, Case Roach, Greg Billups, Jr.) before they tip-off against Augusta on Saturday, Feb. 24. The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with Senior Night festivities beginning prior to the tip from Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center.