Hill’s buzzer beater sinks Nighthawks 87-85

FLORENCE, S.C. – Darnell Snyers finished with a game-high 22 points, but Francis Marion’s Winston Hill hit a 10-foot jumper with two seconds left to push the Patriots past the University of North Georgia men’s basketball team, 87-85, Thursday night.

Josh Cottrell scored the first nine points for UNG, all from behind the arc to get the offense started, but Francis Marion took the lead and extended it to as many as nine in the first half before holding on to a six point lead at the break.

In the second half, North Georgia cut the lead to one multiple times, but each time the Patriots would extend the lead back out until the 7:12 mark when North Georgia retook the lead for the first time since 3-0 on free throws from Carrod Watson that made the score 67-66.

Both teams would go back and forth for the remainder of the contest until Hill hit the final shot of the game with two seconds left. Snyers got a look to win the game from half court, but his heave hit off the back of the iron, allowing FMU to escape with the win.

NOTES

• Snyers was 6-for-7 from behind the three-point line, his best shooting performance of the year;
• KJ Jenkins finished with 17 points off the bench, including four threes. Cottrell finished with 14 points as well;
• – Ephraim Tshimanga finished with 12 assists, a career high in the category. The 12 assists ties a program record for assists in a single game, tying Chris Tanzy from the 2012-13 season.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will look to find its first win in PBC play this season on Saturday when they travel to UNC Pembroke. Tip time is 3:30 p.m.