Box Score NEWBERRY, S.C.--USC Aiken lost in overtime to Newberry College, 87-77, in the final game of the Peach Belt/South Atlantic Conference Clash in Newberry, S.C.  With a 22-point lead and 4:14 remaining in the first half the Pacers (0-2) looked as if they were going to cruise to their first victory of the season, but a 31-4 run by the Indians (1-1) gave Newberry a five point lead and turned the game into a battle.

The Pacers shot 69 percent (20/29) for the first 16 minutes of the game as they built their 22-point lead at 47-25. Bryant Latimer, a transfer from Winthrop University, contributed 15 points to the quick start for the Pacers on five-for-five shooting, all of which were three pointers.  After the hot start, Latimer would hit just two of his remaining seven shots from the field to finish with a team high 21 points.

Lee Burton's three-pointer with 5:16 left in the first half gave the Pacers their first 22-point lead.  Following a bucket by the Indians, Burton hit another jumper to extend the USCA lead out to 22 again.  The junior finished the first half with 11 points on four for six shooting.  The Santa Fe Community College transfer didn't hit another field goal for the remainder of the game, going 0 for 5.  He finished with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

USC Aiken missed their final five field goals of the half and watched as Newberry cut the lead to seven, 48-41, at intermission.

Alex Fair's lay-up with 4:14 left in the first half began a 31-4 run for the Indians that would give them a five point lead, 56-51, midway through the second period.  USC Aiken shot 7.6 percent (1/13), missed 11 straight shots from the field and turned the ball over seven times during the Newberry run.  Fair finished the game with 18 points and a game high 11 rebounds while hitting eight of 10 free throws.

The Indians built a seven point lead three times in the second half.  The third, 65-58, came with just over six minutes left in the game.  A jumper by Todd Williams followed by a three from Minda Statkus and a jumper by senior Eric Dugans tied the game at 65 with 2:58 remaining.  Williams finished with 16 points, a team high eight rebounds, one assists and four blocks. Statkus, coming off a double-double performance against Presbyterian College, scored 10 and grabbed five boards.

A jumper by Latimer put the Pacers ahead by three, 69-66, with 49 seconds left in the game.  Brandon Moses hit a free throw to cut the Pacer lead to two.  He missed his second free throw but Reggie Coleman grabbed the rebound for Newberry.  Coleman's leaning jumper off the glass, following a Newberry timeout, tied the game for the Indians.  Coleman finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.  Dugans missed a jumper at the buzzer and after 40 minutes of play the score was deadlocked at 69.

Newberry outscored the Pacers 18-8 in overtime to claim a 10-point victory.  Rashaad Carter's lay-up broke the final tie of the game, 75-75, with 2:12 remaining.  The Indians closed out the game with a 12-2 run as USC Aiken connected on just two of seven shots from the field in the extra frame.  Carter scored nine of his team high 21 points in overtime.

The Pacers make their first home appearance of the 2002-03 season Tuesday night at the "Courthouse" on the USC Aiken campus.  The Pacers will take on pre-season number 10 Carson-Newman College at 7:30 p.m.

SCORING: 
Newberry College (87): Brad Peper 3, Marcus Cheeks 4, Rashaad Carter 21, Adam Howell 2, Brian Reese 3, Elijah Frasier 5, Brandon Moses 5, Reggie Coleman 12, Dwayne Carter 4, Alex Fair 18
USC Aiken (77): Leroy Williams 4, Jamall Gray 4, Taurus Watson 2, BJ Ivey 0, Bryant Latimer 21, Lee Burton 13, Eric Dugans 4, Todd Williams 16, Mitch Lewis 3, Minda Statkus 10, Martynas Valaitis 0, Mira Jonuska 0