Tshimanga’s Clutch Play Helps Lead Men’s Basketball Past Flagler, 84-82

University of North Georgia

1/4/2017 | Men’s Basketball

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The University of North Georgia men’s basketball team erased a five-point deficit in the final 66 seconds to defeat Flagler, 84-82, Wednesday evening in St. Augustine. The Nighthawks improve to 7-5 on the year and remain unscathed in Peach Belt Conference play at 3-0.

UNG maintained the lead for the vast majority of the first half, opening up the largest lead of the game at 23-13 with a Duke Robinson layup at the 9:29 mark, although the Saints would close the Nighthawk advantage to just one point heading into intermission.

The second half was a classic back-and-forth affair as neither team was able to string together a long scoring run with the game staying within two possessions for the final 20 minutes of action. The Saints found their largest lead of the night at five with just 1:06 remaining but North Georgia would refused to go silently as Ephraim Tshimanga came up with a huge steal following a Shaquan Cantrell layup and quickly found Cantrell again who’s slam dunk pulled UNG within one with 44 ticks left. The Nighthawk defense came up with another key turnover as Duke Robinson picked up a steal just 10 seconds later.

A Flagler foul would put Tshimanga at the line with the chance to take the lead and despite a rather shaky night for UNG at the charity stripe, the freshman came through on both attempts to put North Georgia ahead by two. A blocking fall called on the other end away from the basket let the Saints tie the game back up at 82-all. With the shot clock dark, Tshimanga would find the ball in his hands and made the most of the opportunity with a last second floater making its way through the iron to with just one second left to give the Nighthawks the 84-82 win.

NOTES
Shaquan Cantrell led all scorers with 19 points on the night while Tyler Dominy led the team in rebounds with six. Tshimanga added 15 points while Dominy and Roderick English each scored 12 on the night.

– This marks the fourth time UNG has started PBC play 3-0 since joining the league in 2005. The Nighthawks best start in league play was 5-0 set in the 2013-14 season.

– North Georgia improves to 9-1 all-time against Flagler, having won five straight over the Saints.

STAT OF THE NIGHT
39 – North Georgia scored 39 points off the bench in the matchup more than tripling up Flagler’s 12 bench points on the night.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will journey up the Atlantic Coast to take on Armstrong State in Savannah on Friday. Tipoff for the game has been moved up to 3:30 p.m.

 

– UNG Athletic Communications

CHAD HAYNIE // Director of Athletic Communications
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA ATHLETICS

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