FLORENCE, S.C. – The No. 12 University of North Georgia (UNG) men's basketball team grabbed a key road win 94-87 at Francis Marion Tuesday afternoon. 

The Nighthawks scored a season-high 94 points in the win, led by junior guard AJ White who finished with a game and season-high 31 points, one point shy of his career high. The scoring outburst marked UNG's fourth time since February 29, 2020 in which the Nighthawks have scored 94 or more points in a game. 

In a chippy, back-and-forth game that saw four technicals exchanged between the two teams, UNG utilized strong rebounding, free throw shooting and consistent scoring down the stretch to pull out the win. 

Joining White in double-digit scoring efforts were junior guard Cayden Charles and freshman forward Zack Hawkinson. 

Charles totaled 17 points, nine rebounds and two steals while going 9-for-13 at the stripe. 

Hawkinson gathered the second consecutive double-double of his career with 19 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. He added a block and a steal while also going 5-for-5 at the free throw line. 

With White's 10-for-20 shooting performance in addition to his 8-for-8 day at the line, the Nighthawks' top three scorers went a combined 22-for-26 at the free throw line. UNG as a team combined to go 30-for-39 at the stripe, nearly doubling up FMU's free throw output as the Patriots went 16-for-19. 

Last season, UNG was one of the best free throw shooting and foul drawing teams in the country. This year, the Nighthawks have continued the trend with an aggressive offense that ranks in the top 50 nationally in free throw attempts and free throws made per game. 

Conversely, the Nighthawks have been one of the most defensively disciplined teams through eight games this season, committing a slim average of just 13.3 fouls per game which ranks No. 16 in NCAA Division II. 

Now 7-1 on the season, UNG will look to add its first conference win of the season in its next game when the Nighthawks head to Morrow, Ga. to open Peach Belt Conference play against Clayton State. Tip off against the Lakers is set for Saturday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m.