DAHLONEGA -- After an outstanding weekend for No. 9 University of North Georgia (UNG) men's basketball junior guard Cayden Charles, the Peach Belt Conference announced Charles as the Men's Basketball Player of the Week Monday afternoon. Charles wins the first conference weekly award of the season after an impressive performance in Gaffney, S.C. 

In the Southeast Region Crossover, Charles torched the competition in both games, helping the ninth ranked Nighthawks go 2-0 on the weekend and move to 4-0 for just the third time in the NCAA Division II era (2005) in program history.

On Friday against host Limestone in the UNG's first true road game of the year, Charles dropped 17 points by going 4-for-8 from the floor and 9-for-12 at the free throw line. He added five rebounds and two steals in a comeback win.

Less than 24 hours later against Young Harris, Charles exploded for a career-high 34 points on 10-of-13 shooting while going 11-for-14 from the stripe. He poked one of UNG's three steals in the final two minutes to get past the Mountain Lions in a close 84-81 win. Charles' 34 points are tied for the third most in a game in the Division II era in program history. He's reached double figures in all four games this season and is currently averaging 22.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting 61.4 percent from the floor. Of the players nationally who have attempted 40 or more field goals this season, Charles' 61.4 percent mark ranks second across the country. 

The weekly honor from the PBC is the first of the Kennesaw, Ga. native's career. He becomes the fourth Nighthawk to win the award in the last three seasons. 

Charles and UNG will now get ready for the 2024-25 home opener tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 12. At Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center, the Nighthawks will face Tusculum at 7 p.m. in its first game back at home since the Southeast Regional Championship last season.