ST. AUGUSTINE – Flagler College trailed by as many as 22 points in the first half, but closed the first half strong only to fall short to the University of North Georgia in the end 85-78 in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Thursday night at Flagler Gymnasium.

North Georgia ran its winning streak to four games and improved to 7-1 overall and 1-0 in the Peach Belt. Flagler lost its third consecutive game and fell to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Dennis Diaz scored a season-high 19 points on 7 of 13 shooting for the Saints. He also added six rebounds and four steals. Jerrell Oxendine contributed 18 points, five rebounds and four assists while Keshaun Hamilton tallied 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Kessler Bell, in his first collegiate start, chipped in with 11 points, four rebounds and four blocked shots.

The Saints were held to 34.4% (11-32) shooting from the field in the first half and trailed 44-34 at the half. Flagler recuperated and shot 47.4% (18-38) in the second half.

Shaquan Cantrell led a balanced scoring attack for the Nighthawks with 15 points. He also grabbed seven rebounds. Corey Green added 14 points and nine rebounds while Sean Brennan tallied 11 points and dished out five assists. T.J. Williams chipped in with 10 points. Michael Varrichione finished with nine points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.

North Georgia out-scored Flagler inside 38-20.

The Nighthawks blew open a three-point game with 12:20 left in the first half with a monstrous 28-9 run over an 8:19 span to grab a commanding 44-22 lead. Cantrell made a pair of free throws with 3:48 left to give North Georgia the 22-point advantage. But the Nighthawks would be held scoreless the remainder of the half as they missed all eight shots from the field and the Saints closed on a 12-0 run.

North Georgia went almost six minutes without making a field goal. Antonio Lawrence made a layup with 4:11 left in the first half and it took 1:44 into the second half until Cantrell's dunk gave North Georgia a 46-39 lead.

Austin Howard sank a jumper to pull Flagler to within five (46-41) with 18:05 left. However, North Georgia would go on a 14-3 run of its own to pull ahead 60-44.

The Saints continued to show their resiliency late in the game. Oxendine hit a 3-pointer to close the gap to three (81-78) with 48 seconds left.

The Nighthawks were able to hold off the Saints. Green hit a running layup with 13 seconds left and Flagler missed a layup at the other end and was forced to foul. Brennan sank both free throws with five seconds to put the game away.

Flagler plays host to Young Harris College on Saturday (Dec. 20) at 3:30 p.m. at Flagler Gymnasium.