Box Score AIKEN, SC--USC Aiken lost its season finale, 77-63, to Augusta State University at "The Courthouse" on Saturday night in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action.
Minda Statkus led the Pacers with a career high 19 points. Patrick Curran led the Jaguars with 19 points of his own. ASU improves to 17-10 overall and 13-6 in the PBC. USCA falls to 5-22 and 4-15 in league play.
The Pacers have concluded their 2002-03 regular season. Next up for USC Aiken will be the Peach Belt Conference Tournament in Columbus, Ga. USCA, the fourth seed from the PBC North Division, will play Clayton State, the fifth seed from the PBC South Division, on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
Statkus got USC Aiken on the board and tied the game at two with 18:58 left in the first half.
Todd Williams' jumper gave the Pacers their first lead, 6-5, with 15:26 to go in the first.
Lee Burton put USCA ahead 10-8 with 13:33 on the clock and Williams' second free throw gave the Pacers their last lead of the game, 22-20, with 8:02 before intermission.
After Williams' two free throws, USC Aiken scored just three points over the next six and a half minutes as the Jaguars built a 10-point lead. Jermale Wilkerson's two free throws gave ASU a 35-25 with 1:38 remaining in the first half. USCA scored the final five points of the first half to cut the lead to 35-30 at the break.
A 13-5 run by the Jaguars to start the second half put ASU ahead 50-35 with 14:35 left in the game. Ben Butler's jumper capped the run and Augusta State maintained the double-digit lead for the remainder of the game. The Jaguars took their largest lead of the game, 17 points, 64-47, on a free throw by Chris Harriman at the 7:28 mark. The Pacers closed within 11 points with under four minutes to play but they would get no closer.
Augusta State shot 47.7 percent (21-for-44) from the field for the game while holding USC Aiken to just 35.8 percent (19-for-53). The Jaguars held a 35-34 advantage on the boards and committed just 15 turnovers. ASU connected on 41.7 percent (five-for-12) from behind the three-point arch. USCA shot just 28.6 percent (four-for-14) from deep.
David Siebrands scored 15 points and grabbed a game high eight rebounds.
Bryant Latimer and
Lee Burton each scored 13 points for the Pacers.
SCORING:
Augusta State (77): Patrick Curran19, Marcus Johnson 4, Jermale Wilkerson 8, Chris Harriman 6, David Siebrands 15, Jason Mills 5, Dean Brebner 9, Ben Butler 8, Norris Grant 1, Lee Jones 2
USC Aiken (63):
Todd Williams 4,
Minda Statkus 19,
Bryant Latimer 13,
Lee Burton 13,
Eric Dugans 2,
Leroy Williams 2,
Jamall Gray 2,
Taurus Watson 2,
Mitch Lewis 6
