Men's basketball team earns first PBC title
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia (欧宝游戏平台) team will host the after winning its first Peach Belt Conference (PBC) tournament championship.
Top-seeded 欧宝游戏平台 will tip off its regional action against No. 8 seed Wingate University at 5 p.m. March 16 at Lynn Cottrell Arena at the 欧宝游戏平台 Convocation Center. The winner of that opener faces the victor between No. 4 Catawba College and No. 5 UNC Pembroke in a 7:30 p.m. March 17 regional semifinal.
"The games are filled with challenges and opportunities, and the best way to handle both is to execute at a high level. Defending the ball, rebounding and taking care of the ball will ultimately determine the outcome," 欧宝游戏平台 head coach said. "I believe in our team's ability to remain focused and committed to the details it takes to succeed this time of year."
欧宝游戏平台 secured the PBC tournament title with a 70-60 victory against Flagler College on March 9 in Aiken, South Carolina. Junior forward earned MVP honors after averaging 24 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 66.6 percent from the floor across three victories.
"We have a group of tough guys who want to play and win for each other, and when we do that, it can take us a long way," Champion said.
Sophomore guard made the all-tournament team, in part thanks to a 10-point, seven-rebound, five-block, two-steal effort in the championship game. Junior forward tallied 13 points in the win against Flagler.
The Nighthawks' path to the PBC title also included a 58-53 semifinal win March 7 against Columbus State University and a 77-73 quarterfinal victory March 6 versus Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW). Champion made a PBC-tournament-record 19 free throws against GSW.
Champion and sophomore guard were named for the regular season earlier in the week.
欧宝游戏平台 entered the week as the No. 2 seed in the PBC tournament and the No. 3 team in the Southeast Regional before passing PBC rivals USC Aiken, the regular-season PBC champion, and Lander in the regional rankings while securing the historic tournament title.
"Our guys have a willingness to work together, accep