Flagler College loses shooting touch in 70-60 loss to North Georgia in Peach Belt championship
Two days after scorching the nets in a semifinal victory over Georgia College, Flagler College came up empty most the game and lost to North Georgia 70-60 in the Peach Belt Conference championship game on Saturday, at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center.
It was the Saints' third trip to the Peach Belt championship game in the last four seasons. They won in 2021 on their way to the NCAA Division II Final Four.
Flagler (20-11) shot only 29.2 percent from the floor (19 of 65) and 28.1 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (9 of 32). In their 76-64 semifinal victory on Thursday, the Saints made 72.7 percent of their shots in the second half and 58.3 percent for the game.
Flagler guards Jalen Barr, Malik Bryant and Omar Figueroa combined to shoot 4 of 28 (14.2 percent) against the Nighthawks. They were a combined 58.6 percent against Georgia College (17 of 29).
Still Flagler had a chance after Destin Clark (17 points, five rebounds) led an 11-0 run late in the first half to cut North Georgia's lead to 30-29. North Georgia opened the margin up to 38-29 within three minutes of the second half but the Saints cut the lead to four, 59-55, with 3:44 left.
However, the Nighthawks scored the next six points to end Flagler's final threat.
UNG's Frank Champion was named the Tournament MVP and had 17 points on 8-for-11 shooting against the Saints, with four assists and five rebounds.
Flagler guard Jax Bouknight, who had 15 points, made the All-Tournament team along with Barr.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: North Georgia ends Flagler College run in Peach Belt Conference tournament
