DAHLONEGA – The University of North Georgia (UNG) men's basketball team has released its schedule for the 2026-27 season. 

Fresh off a 22-8 record last season highlighted by a Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament Championship Runner-Up finish and a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history, the Nighthawks are looking to build off of that momentum in the new season. 

North Georgia kicks off its eighth season under head coach Dan Evans at home for the Lumpkin County Community Schools 5th Grader's Day Out. UNG will take on Toccoa Falls at Lynn Cottrell Arena inside the UNG Convocation Center for an exhibition matchup on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. 

The Nighthawks will return to action back home to face Lee on Monday, Nov. 9 for their official home opener. This will be the first meeting between North Georgia and Lee since Nov. 20, 2021. 

UNG's homestand continues Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14 as the Nighthawks welcome Emmanuel and Auburn-Montgomery to Lynn Cottrell Arena for the Conference Crossover. 

For the first time in program history, North Georgia will travel to Stanford Arena in Mars Hill, N.C. to take on Mars Hill on Saturday, Nov. 21. The Nighthawks will matchup with Mars Hill for just the fourth time ever and the first time since Nov. 12, 2011. 

North Georgia will close out its nonconference slate at the Florida Southern College (FSC) Holiday Classic to face off against Florida Southern on Friday, Nov. 27 and Sant Leo on Saturday, Nov. 28. 

The PBC portion of the schedule starts in December, as the Nighthawks open their conference play back home against Clayton State on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. in Memorial Hall. Last season, North Georgia secured wins in both of its meetings with the Lakers, 87-70 and 84-78. 

The Nighthawks will then hit the road for a pair of big conference matchups. The first will be against Columbus State at Frank G Lumpkin Jr. Center. UNG split its regular season games with the Cougars last year but defeated Columbus State in the PBC Tournament semifinals. The second road test will come against Lander at Finis Horne Arena on Saturday, Dec. 12. The Nighthawks and Bearcats split their regular season meetings last year, but Lander was able to take down North Georgia in the PBC Tournament Championship on its way to an NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship Runner-Up finish last year. 

December will round out back in Dahlonega for North Georgia as they take on USC Aiken on Wednesday, Dec. 16. The Nighthawks will close December as hosts of the Ross Morkem Memorial at Lynn Cottrell Arena and welcome Southern Wesleyan and Young Harris to town on Saturday, Dec. 19 and Sunday, Dec 20. 

2027 opens at home for UNG back in PBC play against Flagler on Saturday, Jan. 2 before a pair of road games at Georgia College on Wednesday, Jan. 6. and at Georgia Southwestern on Saturday, Jan. 9. 

The Nighthawks will return to Dahlonega for a pair of games on their home court on Wednesday, Jan. 13 against Middle Georgia and Saturday, Jan. 16 against USC Beaufort. 

North Georgia will hit the road to face Augusta on Wednesday, Jan. 20 before returning to action a week later at home against Columbus State on Wednesday, Jan. 27. 

Three days later, UNG will embark on a two-game road stand that starts at Clayton State on Saturday, Jan. 30 and concludes on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at USC Aiken.  

A pair of home matchups await the Nighthawks against Lander on Saturday, Feb. 6 and Georgia Southwestern on Wednesday, Feb. 10.  

In the final stretch of the regular season, North Georgia will alternate away and home games for its final five matchups, starting at Middle Georgia on Saturday, Feb. 13.  

The Nighthawks set up with a home meeting with Georgia College on Wednesday, Feb. 17 before going back on the road three days later to face Flagler on Saturday, Feb. 20. 

North Georgia's last home game of the regular season will take place on Feb. 24 against Augusta before the 2026-27 regular season concludes at USC Beaufort on Saturday, Feb. 27. 

The 2026-27 PBC Tournament will begin on Wednesday, Mar. 3 at the higher seed in each matchup and will conclude on Sunday, Mar. 7 at the highest remaining seed in the tournament. The NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Southeast Regional Tournament is scheduled to take place from Mar. 12 through Mar. 16, and the Elite Eight and NCAA Championship is set for Mar. 23 through Mar. 27 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.