Box Score MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga.--USC Aiken lost to Georgia College & State University, 68-64, tonight in Milledgeville, Ga., in a match-up of Peach Belt Conference men's basketball teams.  USCA overcame an 18-point second half deficit to get within two but could never get over the hump.  The Pacers fall to 3-20 on the season and 2-13 in the PBC.  GC&SU improved to 13-8 overall and 10-5 in conference play.
After USC Aiken cut a 14-point lead to 10 points, the Bobcats put together an 8-0 run behind six points from Tylan Gatling, to build their largest lead of the game, 18 points, 58-40, with 8:11 left in the game.
Jamall Gray's bucket with 7:56 left in the game began an 18-2 run by the Pacers.  Bryant Latimer scored eight points during the run.  Todd Williams scored the final five points of the run and his free throw with 2:57 to play brought USC Aiken all the way back to within two points, 60-58.
Two free throws and a lay-up by Rodney Keener put the Bobcats back out in front by six, 66-60, with 1:47 remaining.  Keener, GC&SU's leading scorer, finished the night with 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, one block and four steals.
Latimer hit two free throws at the 1:29 mark to cut the lead to 66-62.  The junior scored all 13 of his points on the night in the second half.  GC&SU turned the ball over and then fouled Lee Burton.  The Clearwater, Fla., native hit both free throws to draw the Pacers within two points, 66-64, with 34 seconds on the clock.
USC Aiken sent Keener to the line with the opportunity to but the Bobcats back up by four, but the senior connected on just one free throw giving the Pacers a chance to tie the game.
Mitch Lewis' three-point attempt with 11 seconds left in the game was blocked by Gatling and the Bobcats added a free throw to make the final score 68-64.  Gatling, who averaged just 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, came off the bench to score 17 points, grab six rebounds, block two shots and make three steals.
GC&SU shot 57.1 percent (12-for-21) in the second half and 42.1 percent for the game.  USCA connected on just 37.3 percent (19-for-51) of its shots, the first time in six games they failed to hit 40 percent or better.  The Bobcats held a 39-34 advantage on the boards.
Williams gave the Pacers an early 2-0 lead with a lay-up at the 19:46 mark of the first half.  The junior scored 13 points, brought down one rebound, had two assists and five blocks in the game.
Two free throws by Daryl Ruffus and a lay-up by Keener gave the Bobcats a 4-2 lead with 18:10 on the clock in the first half.  GC&SU would not trail again.  Ruffus finished with a game-high 19 points on seven-of-21 shooting.  He also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and blocked three shots.
Georgia College slowly built an 11-point first half lead.  Gatling's three-pointer with 3:37 left in the first half put the Bobcats ahead 28-17.
Lewis nailed two three pointers in the final two and a half minutes and the Pacers used an 11-3 run to close the halftime deficit to three points, 31-28.
USC Aiken will be back in action again on Wednesday when the Pacers travel to Pembroke, N.C., for a PBC North Division match-up with UNC Pembroke.  Tip-off against the Braves is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
SCORING: 
Georgia College & State (68):  Daryl Ruffus 19, Johnnie Stafford 2, Kedrick Larry 5, Rodney Keener 18, Duke Gibbs 1, Cooper Sellers 3, Tylan Gatling 17, John Thomas 2, Jason Gant 1
USC Aiken (64):  Eric Dugans 4, Todd Williams 13, Minda Statkus 11, Bryant Latimer 13, Lee Burton 13, Jamall Gray 2, Taurus Watson 2, Mitch Lewis 6