(Interstat) — In a tense men’s junior college basketball game Wednesday night, the Central Georgia Titans edged the Georgia Highlands Chargers 64-63 in a contest decided by a frantic final sequence.

The game, played Feb. 18, 2026, saw the visiting Chargers mount a significant early lead, only for the home Titans to claw back and secure the victory in the closing seconds. The win improved Central Georgia’s season record to 10-6, while Georgia Highlands fell to 6-10.

Central Georgia’s Kaziaes Hemphill was the dominant force, leading all players with 23 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots in 35 minutes. His interior presence was pivotal as the Titans overcame a slow start. Roosevelt Brown added 17 points and five assists for Central Georgia. Braylen Smith led Georgia Highlands with 21 points, while Justen Goudelock contributed 12 points and six rebounds.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the final minute. With Central Georgia leading 60-58, Hemphill scored on a layup with one minute remaining to extend the lead to four. After a Georgia Highlands turnover, the Titans’ Lemar Edmond missed a layup but secured his own rebound and scored, putting Central Georgia ahead 62-58 with 23 seconds left.

Following a Georgia Highlands timeout, the Chargers’ Landen Williams committed a turnover. Hemphill stole the ball and found Evrad Makendi for a dunk, stretching the Titan lead to 64-58 with 18 seconds to play. Georgia Highlands turned the ball over again on its next possession, effectively sealing the outcome despite a late missed jump shot by Smith as time expired.

The frantic finish capped a game of distinct halves. Georgia Highlands raced to a 41-28 lead after the first quarter, fueled by efficient outside shooting. The Chargers made 8 of 19 from 3-point range for the game, compared to just 4 of 20 for the Titans. Central Georgia began its methodical comeback in the second quarter, outscoring Georgia Highlands 36-22 over the final 20 minutes by dominating the paint and the glass.

The Titans held a 40-33 rebounding advantage, including 13 offensive boards, and outscored the Chargers 42-26 on points in the paint. Central Georgia also blocked seven shots, led by Hemphill’s five. Both teams struggled offensively by efficiency metrics, with nearly identical offensive ratings around 85 points per 100 possessions, and each committed 15 turnovers.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Central Georgia, which also defeated Georgia Highlands 76-64 on Jan. 14. Entering the game, statistical models heavily favored the Titans with an 84 percent probability to win.

Georgia Highlands next plays at home against Albany Tech on Saturday. Central Georgia is scheduled to host Gordon State, also on Saturday.