YOUNG HARRIS — Young Harris' 29-10 run over the final eight minutes of the first half proved to be too much for the University of North Georgia men's basketball team to overcome on an evening where the Nighthawks were looking to make history, falling to the Mountain Lions, 95-78. North Georgia finishes the regular season at 15-13 with an 11-8 mark in the Peach Belt Conference. UNG finishes in an unbelievable five-way tie for first place in the Western Division.
The two rivals went back-and-forth in the opening 12 minutes of the ballgame before Young Harris went on the 29-10 run over the last eight minutes of the half to take a commanding 19-point advantage into the halftime break. The Nighthawks improved their play in the second half outscoring YHC, 44-42, but could never piece together a sustained run to cut into the Mountain Lion lead.
Denzell Hosch's 18 points led the UNG effort. Lanre Olatunji pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
The Nighthawks struggled at the free throw line, converting on just 55.6 percent of their 27 shots from the charity stripe on the night.
Although it is shared with four other teams, the first place finish in the Western Division is the first in the history of the men's basketball program since joining the PBC in the 2005-2006 season. UNG had not finished any higher than third in the division before this year.
The Nighthawks are awaiting the official release of the PBC Tournament bracket as the league office is currently sorting through the tiebreaking process after the five-way tie for first. Only four teams from the division advance to the conference tournament.
