1/6/17
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Six Nighthawks reached double figures as the University of North Georgia men’s basketball team picked up its fifth straight win edging Armstrong State, 91-86, Friday afternoon in Savannah. UNG advances to 8-5 on the season with a 4-0 mark in the Peach Belt Conference.
The game remained tight throughout the entire first half with neither team garnering a lead of more than two possessions until North Georgia went on a 7-0 run in the last minute of the period to take a 10-point lead into the break.
The Nighthawks would extend their lead to as many as 18 points early in the second half but Armstrong State slowly chipped away at the lead eventually tying the game with 3:43 left in regulation. The Pirates found themselves with an opportunity to take the lead at the free-throw line with just 13 seconds left but after missing both free throws Ephraim Tshimanga would hit a pair at the charity stripe on the other end to give UNG a three-point advantage and following a desperation three by ASU’s Jamison Jeffers, Shaquan Cantrell would drain two free throws to put the game away, 91-86.
NOTES
– Shaquan Cantrell led the Nighthawks in scoring with 16 points on the day and also led the team in rebounds with nine, just one shy of a double-double.
– In addition to Cantrell, five other Nighthawks scored in double figures on the day: Ebo Smith (13), Tyler Dominy (11), Roderick English (11), Ephraim Tshimanga (11), and Duke Robinson (10).
– The 4-0 start to Peach Belt Conference play is the second best in school history, only trailing the Nighthawks’ 5-0 start in the 2013-14 season.
– UNG is now 7-10 all-time against Armstrong State, having defeated the Pirates in each of the last three games in Savannah.
STAT OF THE DAY
62 – North Georgia scored 62 points in the paint in the contest compared to just 40 points scored down low by Armstrong State.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will return to the friendly confines of Memorial Hall for one of just three January home games on Monday, Jan. 9, hosting USC Aiken. Tipoff for the game is set for 5:30 p.m.
