COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of North Georgia (UNG) men's basketball team fell 92-88 in overtime to second-seeded USC Aiken in the 2025 Peach Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals in Columbus, Ga. on Saturday.

Despite an unbelievably impressive effort from the Nighthawks, their season is likely over after failing to earn the PBC's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. 

UNG was inches away from securing that bid on Saturday as junior guard AJ White had a look at the buzzer that could've potentially won the game for the Nighthawks.

With fourth-seeded USC Beaufort taking down top-seeded Columbus State in the other semifinal matchup on Saturday, the winner between UNG and the Pacers earned the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament as the Sand Sharks are in their second year as a member of NCAA Division-II and thus ineligible for the postseason. With USC Beaufort in the PBC Championship, the automatic bid will go to USC Aiken regardless of the result of Sunday's title bout.

White led the way for the Nighthawks in their bid for a spot in the PBC Championship on Saturday. The junior scored 27 points with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. 

Junior guard Cayden Charles was sensational as well against the Pacers as he recorded a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double on 8-of-17 shooting from the floor. 

Senior guard Sutton Smith had one of the best games of his career with 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Smith went 3-for-3 from the floor and 7-for-8 at the free throw line in the game.

UNG fell behind in the first half after a 10-2 USC Aiken run put the Pacers ahead 29-21 with 4:57 to play in the first half. USC Aiken held a six-point margin at the break.

The Nighthawks opened the second half on a 15-5 scoring burst to pull ahead by four points with 14:32 to play in the game. The lead changed hands eight times over the next 12 minutes as UNG sank four straight free throws that came as a result from a technical foul against USC Aiken's Simeon German. 

As junior center Colin Turner knocked down two foul shots after White's technical free throws, the Nighthawks led 70-69 with 2:43 remaining.

After German redeemed his miscue with a layup on the other end to put the Pacers back in front, Smith knocked down his one made three pointer in the game for UNG to put the Nighthawks up 73-71 with less than two minutes to go.

Two free throws from Pacer guard Rhyjon Blackwell then tied the game back up at 73-73. USC Aiken got a stop on defense the next time down and a dunk from Jalen McCoy put his team ahead 75-73. 

On the other end of the floor, Charles drew a foul and tied the ball game at the free throw line. The most chaotic sequence of the game ensued as both teams had numerous opportunities to perhaps win the game in regulation.

USC Aiken's Davion Cunningham attempted to drive on Charles with less than 40 seconds to go, but Smith jumped in from the help side to take the ball away and give possession back to the Nighthawks. 

On the possession following the steal, White received a screen from Turner and drove down the right side of the lane between a flurry of defenders. He elevated to the right side of the rim and barely missed a hanging layup that would've given UNG the lead. The Pacers pulled down the rebound and pushed in transition with 10 seconds to go. 

On the fastbreak, McCoy fumbled a pass in the middle of the lane that would've surely resulted in a close-range shot attempt had he caught it. Instead, Charles retrieved the ball 94 feet from his own basket and shoveled it to Smith who launched a pass to half court where White caught the ball. 

White (who famously hit a buzzer-beater three pointer against Lander in the regular season) raced up the left sideline as precious seconds ticked away. With five seconds to go, White took one step inside the arc and rose for a potentially game-winning shot. Everyone watching from Dahlonega, Aiken, S.C. and Columbus collectively held their breath. The shot missed but UNG still had a chance to win as freshman forward Zack Hawkinson grabbed the loose ball. He turned and put up a floater that fell short as the horn sounded to end regulation. 

In overtime, the Pacers scored eight of the first 11 points collectively to take an 83-78 lead with 1:55 to play. A little over a minute later, Caleb Byrd sank a pair of free throws to put USC Aiken ahead 87-81 with just 42 seconds left. 

UNG still would not quit as White drilled a triple with 16 seconds left to make it a three-point game. 

On the next possession, Pacer guard Cam Perkins was fouled and headed to the line to try and put his team ahead by five points. Perkins kept it interesting as he missed his first free-throw attempt. However, he made the second one to go back up by four with 14 seconds on the clock.

White came down and made a layup to make it 90-88. The Nighthawks only needed a steal or one missed free throw to stay alive in the game. However, Byrd was fouled on the inbound and made both free throws at the other end to cement the victory for the Pacers. 

Despite the loss, UNG has many reasons to be proud of the toughness and grit displayed on Saturday. After losing to USC Aiken by double digits in both regular-season matchups, not many people gave the Nighthawks a chance against the Pacers. Instead, with pain-staking effort and tenacity, UNG fought until the final whistle when it mattered most with the season perhaps on the line. 

The season is not entirely over yet as the Nighthawks will await the results of the Selection Show on Sunday at 11 p.m. UNG did not appear in the most recent regional rankings which came out last Wednesday prior to the start of the PBC Tournament and UNG's road win at regionally ranked No. 5 Augusta.