DAHLONEGA – The sixth-ranked University of North Georgia men's basketball team used a stingy defense to hold visiting Flagler over 20 points below their season scoring average in a 76-65 Peach Belt Conference win on Saturday at Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center.  

The trio of AJ White, Frank Champion and Cayden Charles combined to score 58 of North Georgia's 76 total points to lead the offense.

White was 8-of-10 from both the floor and the free throw line.

The Nighthawks (18-2, 9-1 Peach Belt) had three players score in double figures, led by White, who had a game-high 27 points and four pitched in with 15 points and six rebounds.

The North Georgia defense held Flagler shooters to just 34.4 percent from the field, including 25 percent from three-point range.

After jumping out to a 9-4 advantage, North Georgia went on a 7-0 run with 16:27 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Sutton Smith, to increase its lead to 16-4. The Nighthawks entered halftime with a 34-29 advantage and did most of its first half damage in the paint, scoring 22 of its 34 points close to the basket.

North Georgia kept its lead intact before going on a 7-0 run to grow the lead to 49-40 with 13:23 to go in the contest. The Nighthawks kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 76-65 win as North Georgia never trailed in the game.  

Omar Figuroa came off the bench to lead Flagler (13-7, 6-4 Peach Belt) with 16 points.

North Georgia returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 7 with a road trip to Milledgeville to take on Georgia College & State University.