(MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga.) – The No. 6 University of North Georgia men’s basketball team led by as many as 28 points as the Nighthawks defeated Georgia College & State University 81-65 on the road on Wednesday evening in Peach Belt Conference action.
The Nighthawks (19-2, 10-1 Peach Belt) had four players score in double figures, led by Cayden Charles with 17 points. Colin Turner tacked on 12 points and seven rebounds and Chase Champion helped out with 12 points.
The 12 points from Champion and Turner each marked career highs.
North Georgia out-rebounded Georgia College 41-34 in Wednesday’s game, led by eight boards from Greg Billups, Jr. The Nighthawks also grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and scored 16 second chance points.
After jumping out to a 32-21 advantage, North Georgia went on an 11-0 run with 4:21 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Frank Champion, to increase its lead to 43-21.
Following intermission, North Georgia kept widening that lead, expanding it to 59-38 before going on a 5-0 run to grow the lead to 64-38 with 9:55 to go in the contest.
North Georgia held its largest lead (72-44) with just over six minutes remaining in the game.
The Nighthawks connected on 8-of-16 (50%) attempts from behind the three-point line marking the fifth time this season UNG has connected on half of shots from long range.
GCSU (9-12, 2-9 Peach Belt) was led by Brendan Rigsbee’s 11 points.
The Nighthawks host Columbus State on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 3:30 p.m. at Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center.
