Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken fell to Carson-Newman College, 78-64, tonight in a non-conference men's basketball game at "The Courthouse" in Aiken, S.C. The two teams played close in the first half, with 14 lead changes and a tie score at the break, but the Eagles used an 18-6 run in the first five minutes of the second stanza to take control of the game. USCA drops to 2-3 on the season, while C-N improves to 4-1 overall.

Curt Triplin's three pointer gave the Pacers their first lead of the game, 5-4, with 17:52 to go in the first half. The teams battled back and forth for the next 10 minutes. With 6:23 to go before intermission, Terrell Turner hit the second of two free throw attempts to cap off a 6-0 Eagle run that gave Carson-Newman its largest lead of the half, five points, 22-17.

After posting back-to-back double-doubles last weekend, Triplin finished the night with nine points and four rebounds. Turner led the Eagles with 17 points, seven boards and four assists. 

USC Aiken answered with a run of its own. Lee Burton's free throw at the 5:34 mark began a streak of seven unanswered points by the Pacers. Two more free throws by Leroy Williams accounted for the final two points of the run and put USCA in front, 24-22, with 2:57 on the clock. The two squads exchanged three pointers. Burton's trey changed the lead for the 14th time and gave the Pacers a 27-25 edge with 1:39 to go before the break. The Eagles connected on a lay-up to tie the game at the half. 

Burton tied a career high with 24 points against the Eagles. He connected on 10-of-20 shots from the field, including three-of-seven from three point land. The senior also scored 24 last season against Carson-Newman, at "The Courthouse."

After making just 33 percent of its shots in the first 20 minutes, C-N came out on fire in the second half and connected on over 60 percent of its shots. A free throw by Todd Lucas, 11 seconds into the second frame, gave the Eagles the lead for good and began an 18-6 run over the first five minutes of the second half. Ishmail Simmons' lay-up put Carson-Newman in front by 12, 45-33, with 15:12 showing on the clock.

Two free throws by Trent Boyd and a jumper by Burton allowed the Pacers to close the gap to seven points, 53-46, with 11:30 to play, but USC Aiken would not get any closer.

Over the next six and a half minutes, the Eagles built their largest lead of the game. Turner's bucket at the four-minute mark put C-N up by 20, 73-53.

Lucas and Braun Dabbs joined Turner with double-digit point totals. Lucas scored 13 while Dabbs added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. The Eagles shot 47.3 percent from the field for the game, including 50 percent from beyond the three point arch. USC Aiken hit on 43.4 percent from the floor and 25 percent from deep. C-N held a 39-29 advantage on the boards.

The Pacers will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to Salisbury, N.C., to face Livingstone College. The tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

SCORING:
Carson-Newman College (78): Ishmail Simmons 9, Todd Lucas 13, Marquise Foster 8, Braun Dabbs 10, Terrell Turner 17, Rob Love 8, Anthony Jones 5, Rodrick Gresham 0, Larry Coleman 6, Stan Davis 2

USC Aiken (64): Lee Burton 24, Minda Statkus 7, Mira Jonuska 2, Curt Triplin 9, Bryant Latimer 8, Leroy Williams 4, Jamall Gray 4, Trent Boyd 6, Martynas Valaitis 0