AUGUSTA, Ga. –  GRU Augusta's offense went cold at the wrong time, failing to register a field goal for nearly the entire final 5:13 of regulation as the visiting North Georgia Nighthawks took home a 87-83 Peach Belt Conference victory Wednesday night in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

It was expected to be a battle of top-tier PBC programs, and the game certainly didn't disappoint.

The first half saw neither team gain a lead of more than four in the initial 13 minutes of the game. UNG's TJ Williams hit a turnaround jumper to put the Nighthawks (11-1, 5-0 PBC) up 29-23 at the 6:39 mark, but the Jaguars (10-4, 2-3 PBC) responded with Keshun Sherrill scoring 14 straight for the Jags. First he hit a jumper, then had an easy fast-break lay-in, both off of D'Angelo Boyce assists. Sherrill then followed with back-to-back treys from the top of the arc, and another four points on two runners in the lane.

Still, it was knotted at 39 apiece before Keith Crump knocked down a three of his own, followed by Tamyrik Fields' jumper  and another Sherrill three to cap an 8-2 Jaguar run. Devon Wright-Nelson ended the half by out-muscling three Nighthawks defenders to get a last-second put back, giving GRU a 49-42 halftime margin.

GRU extended the lead thanks to a couple of Devonte Thomas threes, and Henry McCarthy's jumper with 14:10 made it a 62-50 Jaguar advantage. But North Georgia came right back, taking the lead at the 8:37 mark on two made free throws.

Tied at 75, the Nighthawks clamped down, holding GRU scoreless from the 5:13 mark to a made free throw with 20.6 seconds left while opening a lead, making their free throws to seal the win. The teams were nearly even in field goal percentage, but UNG made 21-of-27 free throws, while the Jags only converted 7-of-15 opportunities at the charity stripe.

Sherrill led all scorers with 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including five threes. Wright-Nelson added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Thomas tacked on 12 points.

Four players hit double figures for North Georgia, led by Shaquan Cantrell's 22 and TJ Williams' 21.

GRU hits the road to face Lander this Saturday, Jan. 10 at 3:30 p.m. before returning to Christenberry Fieldhouse Wednesday, Jan. 14 to host Armstrong at 7:30 p.m.

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