DAHLONEGA, Ga. | Ephraim Tshimanga's layup with 24.9 seconds remaining gave the University of North Georgia the lead for good as the Nighthawks erased a 10-point lead over the final six minutes to record a 90-88 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory over their cross-mountain rivals Young Harris College Wednesday (Jan. 10) evening in Memorial Hall.

The Nighthawks improved to 6-7 overall and to 4-3 in the Peach Belt with the Battle of Blood Mountain victory, while the Mountain Lions fell to 3-11 and 2-6. Young Harris returns to the YHC Basketball Arena Saturday (Jan. 13) for a 3:30 p.m. PBC contest against Flagler College.

The Mountain Lions, who led 51-41 at the half, opened up a 16-point lead (65-49) with 14:44 remaining in the game after Corey Nelson hit the back end of two free throws. The Nighthawks battled back to within six points at 76-70 after Tshimanga hit two free throws with 7:28 to go. However, the Mountain Lions used an old-fashioned three-point play and a layup - both from Nelson - to regain a double-digit lead (82-72) with 5:46 left.

The Nighthawks then scored the next nine points to get within 82-81 after a Tshimanga free throw with 3:32 remaining. The Mountain Lions got a jumper from J.B. Charles, a Nicksen Blanc layup and two free throws - one each from Blanc and Demari Edwards - to take a 88-83 lead with 2:15 to play.

North Georgia used layups from Tshimanga and Shaquan Cantrell to get within a point (88-87) with 1:20 to play. It would stay that way until Ebo Smith stole the ball and threw the ball the length of the court to set up Tshimanga's go-ahead layup with 24.9 seconds left. Smith added an free throw with 2.8 seconds left to give the Nighthawks a 90-88 lead. 

Cantrell led the Nighthawks with 24 points, while Smith and Tshimanga added 13 each. Tyler Dominy (11) and Charles Perry (10) also finished in double figures. 

Charles led the Mountain Lions with a double double - 25 points (18 in the first half) and a career-high 11 rebounds. Nelson added 18 points and seven rebounds, while Blanc registered 15 points. Edwards finished with 14.