ST. AUGUSTINE – Ephraim Tshimanga's turnaround jumper in the lane with one second left to go gave the University of North Georgia an 84-82 victory over Flagler College in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Flagler Gymnasium.
North Georgia improved to 7-5 overall and 3-0 in the Peach Belt with its fourth consecutive win. Flagler fell to 6-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
The game featured six ties and 11 leads changes, primarily all in the second half. There was one lead change in the first half.
Flagler built an 80-75 lead with 1:18 left to go after a pair of
Jeffercy Jean free throws. North Georgia scored the next seven points to take an 82-80 lead with Tshimanga converting an old-fashioned three point play with 29 seconds left.
Flagler's
Cortlin Davis drew a blocking foul on Roderick English coming off an in-bounds pass right in front of the Saints' bench. Davis sank both free throws to tie the game.
Shaquan Cantrell scored 16 of his team-high 19 points in the second half for the Nighthawks. Tshimanga scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half while Tyler Dominy and English each added 12 points. Dominy grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
North Georgia forced 21 Flagler turnovers and cashed them in for 20 points. The Nighthawks also outscored the Saints 46-24 in the paint. North Georgia grabbed 16 offensive rebounds which led to 17 points.
Vaughn McCall led six Flagler players in double figures with 19 points. Davis added 16 points and had five assists while Jean recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jean also tallied six assists.
Austin Howard scored 11 points while
Chris Williams and
Kessler Bell tacked on 10 points apiece. Williams corralled nine rebounds.
The Saints shot a staggering 60.7% (17-28) from the field in the second half and also knocked down 75% (6-8) of their 3-pointers. Flagler shot 93.8% (15-16) from the free throw line.
Up next for the Saints is Young Harris College in a game scheduled to be played on Saturday (Jan. 7) at 3:30 p.m.
