ROME -- The Hawks turned in a complete effort Thursday night, topping 20th-ranked Alabama Huntsville, 85-70 at home.

Shorter moves to 8-3 on the season and 3-2 in conference play; while the Chargers slip to 9-2 overall and fall for the first time in conference play to move to 4-1 in the GSC.

The teams stayed close in the opening minutes matching each other point for point before the Hawks took the lead for good with 16:21 to play on a layup from Travis Jones. From then Shorter used a 21-12 run over five minutes to break out to a 28-18. The Chargers came back; cutting the lead to two with 5:47 to go, but that was as close as they'd get as the Hawks tallied 12 points in the final minutes; while holding UAH to 9.

In the second half the Chargers cut the lead to as little as five, but Shorter didn't let up using a 19-12 run over the final eight minutes to hold on for the win.

In total four Hawks finished in double figures, Dedric Ware led with a game high 25 points – 19 came before the break. Trevor McDade bettered his season high from earlier in the week; turning in 20 points in the win. While Tyler Alderman and Jordan Jacks posted 17 and 16 points, respectively. Jacks also finished with 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the year.

UAH was led by Seab Webster's 20 points and Preston Herring's 19.

Shorter will look to keep the win streak going Saturday as they close out 2014 with a 4:00pm match up with North Alabama at the Winthrop-King Centre.