Basketball teams aim to earn NCAA bids
The University of North Georgia's (UNG) men's and women's basketball teams enter this week's Peach Belt Conference (PBC) tournaments seeking to solidify their chances of making their respective NCAA Division II tournaments.
They enter PBC postseason play on a high note, with the men having won their final nine regular-season games and the women having prevailed in six of their last nine.
Both teams ranked among the top eight of their respective Southeast Regional rankings released Feb. 22, meaning a strong performance in the PBC tournaments could push them further up the pecking order. Eight teams from the Southeast are selected for both the men's and women's NCAA tournaments.
The No. 3 seed UNG women (18-12 overall, 13-7 PBC) start the PBC tournament at 5:30 p.m. March 4 by hosting No. 6 seed Clayton State University (11-16, 8-12) at the Convocation Center. The No. 3 seed UNG men (20-6, 14-6) begin the PBC postseason at 7:30 p.m. March 4 by hosting No. 6 seed Georgia College & State University (16-12, 11-9).
Under head coach Dan Evans, the men's team is aiming for a third NCAA bid in four seasons after not making the national postseason in its first 17 seasons of NCAA play. The Nighthawk men are going for their second-ever PBC tournament title after earning their first in 2024.
Meanwhile, women's basketball head coach Buffie Burson is seeking to guide her team to an eighth NCAA tournament berth in nine seasons and 10th overall. The Nighthawk women are seeking their sixth PBC tournament title and fourth in the past six seasons.
Both teams faced midseason adversity before battling back to put themselves in position for high-stakes postseason matchups at the PBC tournaments.
PBC women's basketball tournament schedule
March 4
No. 8 Lander at No. 1 Columbus State, 5:30 p.m.
No. 7 Georgia College & State at No. 2 USC Beaufort, 5:30 p.m.
No. 6 Clayton State at No. 3 North Georgia, 5:30 p.m.
No. 5 Middle Georgia at No. 4 Augusta, 7:30 p.m.
March 7 (hosted by highest remaining seed entering semifinals)
Columbus State-Lander winner vs. Augusta-Middle Georgia winner, 1 p.m.
USC Beaufort-Georgia College & State winner vs. North Georgia-Clayton State winner, 3:30 p.m.
March 8 (hosted by highest remaining seed entering semifinals)
Championship game, 3 p.m.
PBC men's basketball tournament schedule
March 4
No. 8 USC Aiken at No. 1 Lander, 7:30 p.m.
No. 7 Georgia Southwestern at No. 2 Columbus State, 7:30 p.m.
No. 6 Georgia College & State at No. 3 North Georgia, 7:30 p.m.
No. 5 Flagler College at No. 4 USC Beaufort, 7:30 p.m.
March 7 (hosted by highest remaining seed entering semifinals)
Lander-USC Aiken winner vs. USC Beaufort-Flagler winner, 1 p.m.
Columbus State-Georgia Southwestern winner vs. North Georgia-Georgia College & State winner, 3:30 p.m.
March 8 (hosted by highest remaining seed entering semifinals)
Championship game, 1 p.m.
Spring teams aim to maintain high standards
UNG's spring sports teams are gearing up for another season competing at the highest levels both in the Peach Belt Conference and nationally.
Mental health grad assistant program starts
Two UNG students in the Master of Science in counseling program are serving as mental health graduate assistants for the Athletic Department, and one is serving in the same capacity for the Corps of Cadets.
Nighthawks set record with 18 victories
The UNG women's soccer team set a program record with 18 victories before finishing its season in the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament.