Box Score

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Jarrod Branco (Hudson, Fla., Hudson HS) scored 16 of his team-high 18 points in the second half to help Flagler College rally past North Georgia College & State University 66-60 in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Saturday afternoon at Memorial Hall.

Flagler snapped its 11-game losing streak and improved to 7-12 overall and 1-11 in the Peach Belt. North Georgia has now lost seven of its last eight games and dropped to 8-12 overall and 3-6 in conference play.

A Chad July (Fort White, Fla., Bridgton (Maine) Academy) layup with 4:30 left to go in the game tied the score at 51 and on the next possession, Robby Goldmsith of North Georgia turned the ball over and Addison Smith (West Palm Beach, Fla., College of Central Florida) sank an 8-foot jumper to give Flagler a 53-51 lead, one they would not relinquish.

A Scott Windom layup tied the game at 60 with 1:04 left to play and the Homecoming crowd of 1,445 fans went crazy. However, Flagler took a timeout to re-group and Smith drove the lane and scored on a layup to put Flagler back on top 62-60 with 52 seconds left.

North Georgia, once again, was victimized by a turnover. Chaun Tinney was picked by Branco and then Smith took it in for a layup and Flagler held a 64-60 lead with 17 seconds left.

On the next trip down the court, a long 3-pointer by Goldsmith failed to hit its mark and July was there to collect the rebound. July was quickly fouled and headed to the line to shoot two free throws with seven second left on the clock. He rattled home the first shot and sank the second to put the game away.

Branco sank four 3-pointers for Flagler to contribute to his 18 points. Matt Clark (St. Augustine, Fla., St. Augustine HS) added 14 points while Ante Gospic (Zadar, Croatia, Polk State College) scored 11 of his 12 points in the first half. July finished with nine points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. He made 7-of-11 free throw attempts.

Flagler forced 16 North Georgia turnovers and cashed them in for 15 points. Flagler also held North Georgia to 14.3% (2-14) shooting from 3-point range which is 18 points lower than their season average (32.9%).

Windom led North Georgia with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field. Pat Moynihan grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. North Georgia's leading scorer, Clarence Tillman (18.4 ppg), was held to just eight points and was just 1-of-5 from the field.

North Georgia held a 27-22 lead at the half.

Flagler is off until Feb. 4 when it travels to Augusta State University for a 3:30 p.m. tilt.

NOTE: The win snaps a 13-game Peach Belt Conference losing streak for Flagler. It is Flagler first conference road victory since Jan. 8, 2011 at Lander.

Flagler vs North Georgia
01/28/12 3:30 p.m. at Dahlonega, Ga. (Memorial Hall)
At Dahlonega, Ga. (Memorial Hall)

FLAGLER 66, NORTH GEORGIA 60

FLAGLER (7-12, 1-11 PBC)
Jarrod Branco 6-12 2-2 18; Matt Clark 5-9 2-4 14; Ante Gospic 5-11 1-2 12;
Addison Smith 4-9 1-2 9; Chad July 1-3 7-11 9; Ryan Barnes 1-2 0-0 2; Jordan
Warner 1-4 0-0 2; Justin Stokes 0-0 0-0 0; Desmond Gibson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals
23-50 13-21 66.

NORTH GEORGIA (8-12, 3-6 PBC)
Scott Windom 9-16 4-5 23; Clarence Tillman 1-5 6-8 8; Elijah Smith 2-4 3-4
7; Travis Core 1-4 4-4 6; Victor Holder 2-4 1-2 5; Robby Goldsmith 2-5 0-0
5; Chaun Tinney 0-3 3-4 3; Pat Moynihan 1-7 1-2 3; Michael Varrichione 0-1
0-0 0. Totals 18-49 22-29 60.

Flagler.......................   22   44  -   66
North Georgia.................   27   33  -   60

3-point goals--Flagler 7-14 (Jarrod Branco 4-5; Matt Clark 2-4; Ante Gospic
1-3; Ryan Barnes 0-1; Addison Smith 0-1), North Georgia 2-14 (Scott Windom
1-5; Robby Goldsmith 1-3; Chaun Tinney 0-1; Pat Moynihan 0-2; Clarence
Tillman 0-3). Fouled out--Flagler-None, North Georgia-None.
Rebounds--Flagler 31 (Chad July 7), North Georgia 36 (Pat Moynihan 7).
Assists--Flagler 10 (Addison Smith 3), North Georgia 11 (Chaun Tinney 3;
Clarence Tillman 3; Pat Moynihan 3). Total fouls--Flagler 20, North Georgia
21. Technical fouls--Flagler-Ante Gospic, North Georgia-None. A-1445