DAHLONEGA, Ga. – A 14-point first half deficit was too much to overcome for Southern Wesleyan men's basketball on Saturday against North Georgia as the Nighthawks came away with the 87-73 win the season opener for both teams.

The Warriors trailed by as much as 14 in the first half but fought back to close the gap early in the second half.  SWU closed the half on a 7-0 run capped by a lay-up from Cameron Solomon inside the final minute. That brought the game to within seven at 36-29 at the half.

SWU continued their momentum early in the second half as Buster Walker scored five straight on his own to bring the run up to 12-0 and cut the lead down to just two at 36-34.  TJ Williams scored for UNG to push the lead back to four, but Dwayne Bryant scored and after a steal by Solomon and a converted layup, the game was tied at 38-38. 

The Nighthawks embarked on a 15-3 run after that to take back control.  The Warriors never were closer than 10 points the rest of the way as UNG pushed the lead out to 26 late in the game.

The Warriors shot 59.3 percent in the second half but the Nighthawks were a touch better at 63.6 percent.  UNG converted on 10-of-28 from three-point range on the night while the Warriors made 6-of-15.  Walker hit on all three of his attempts from distance and finished with 13 points.

Mike Lieberman led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds.  The senior forward connected on 6-of-9 from the floor and all four free throw attempts.  SWU missed just one of their 10 attempts from the charity stripe.

Solomon and Kenny Holmes joined Walker and Lieberman in double figures with 13 and 11 points respectively.  Solomon had a tough shooting night, making just 6-of-13 from the floor.  He did find other ways to help the team with four rebounds and four assists.  Holmes also struggled from the floor, making 4-of-12 from the floor and he added four assists.

For the game the Warriors made 51.8 percent from the field and 6-of-15 from three-point range.  The Nighthawks connected on 52.2 percent from the floor.  Shaquan Cantrell led all players with 21 points as four players reached double figures for UNG.

The Warriors hit the road next week for four games, first heading to USC Aiken on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest.

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