Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken's men's basketball team lost to Columbus State University, 96-61, tonight at "The Courthouse" in Aiken, S.C. Lee Burton scored a team-high 15 points for the Pacers (7-8, 1-3 PBC) while Jeff Dancy came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points for the Cougars (10-4, 3-1 PBC). CSU's Deshawn Bowman set a Peach Belt Conference record with 19 assists, beating the previous mark of 17.

Yandel Brown scored seven of his 15 points in the opening three minutes of the game as Columbus State raced out to an 11-0 lead with 17:24 before haltime. After Curt Triplin got USC Aiken on the board with a free throw at the 16:56 mark, Bowman's lay-up extended the lead to 13-4. The Pacers' first field goal came on Burton's three pointer with 14:55 before intermission and brought USCA to within nine, 13-4.

Another trey by Burton closed the gap to six points, 18-12, with 11:09 remaining before the break, but the Pacers wouldn't get any closer the rest of the game. Kendrick Jones set the halftime score at 46-26 on a lay-up with 19 seconds to go.

Triplin's jumper just over a minute into the second half cut the lead to 17, 48-31, but John Thomas answered with a three-pointer and the Cougars led by 20 or more until the final horn. Chris Jackson's basket gave Columbus State its largest lead of the game, 40 points, 90-50, with 4:18 left to play.

CSU shot 45.6 percent (36-of-79) for the game and out-rebounded the Pacers, 58-33. USC Aiken connected on 21-of-61 shots for 34.4 percent. Bowman's 19 assists were two more than the entire USCA team and bettered two former Peach Belt record holders. Corey Johnson of Clayton State had 17 assists on Nov. 20, 1995 against Valdosta State and Jessie Flemming of Columbus State had 17 assists on Jan. 22, 1992 against Armstrong Atlantic.

Dancy made seven-of-15 shots from the field including five-of-10 from beyond the three point arch. Brown finished with 15 points and Kamar Zachery had 14 points off the bench. Thomas recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. 

The Pacers will finish up their three-game home stand on Wednesday when they face nineteenth ranked Francis Marion University at "The Courthouse" in Aiken, S.C. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 

SCORING:
Columbus State (96): John Thomas 13, Kendrick Jones 13, Akeem Francis 4, Deshawn Bowman 4, Yandel Brown 15, Quint Coger 2, Gilbert Wilson 3, Jeff Dancy 20, Battle Neal 2, Kamar Zachery 14, Chris Jackson 6

USC Aiken (61): Todd Williams 4, Minda Statkus 9, Curt Triplin 7, Bryant Latimer 7, Lee Burton 15, Leroy Williams 9, Will Spencer 4, Trent Boyd 2, Cameron Conover 2