Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken's men's basketball team staged a second half comeback for the second time in three days, beating Wingate University, 94-90, after trailing by 14 points at halftime at "The Courthouse" in Aiken, S.C. Five players scored in double figures for the Pacers (6-5), who have already surpassed the win total for last season's 5-23 team. Wingate (3-9) got a game-high 22 points from Titus Miller.

A 23-5 first half run allowed Wingate to take a 14-point lead, 47-33, into the locker room. The Pacers came out after intermission and cut the lead in half in the first four minutes of the second half. A Todd Williams jumper brought USCA to within 54-47 with 16:13 on the clock.

"I thought we played real selfish in the first half and not hard enough," USC Aiken Head Coach Mike Roberts said. "But in the second half we responded beautifully."

Wingate pushed out to an 11-point advantage four times over the next three minutes. Bryan Grier's free throw with 12:49 remaining gave the Bulldogs their last 11-point lead, 65-54.

Curt Triplin scored five points during a 9-0 Pacer run capped off by a basket from Lee Burton that closed the gap to two points. 

" We were down by eight with about 10 minutes to go and I told them I don't care what the score is, we're playing good now," said Roberts.

The Bulldogs edged out by five points three times. Miller's bucket with 7:47 on the clock gave Wingate a 72-67 lead. The senior guard finished eight-of-16 from the field with seven rebounds and nine assists to go along with his game-high 22 points. 

Bryant Latimer nailed a three pointer 13 seconds later to begin what would turn out to be a 15-2 run. Burton's thee with 5:28 remaining tied the game, 74-74. Turnovers and fouls allowed USCA six straight trips to the free throw line and six straight points. A Minda Statkus layup with 3:40 on the clock gave the Pacers an eight-point lead, 82-74.

Burton connected on just four-of-12 shots from the field, but made 11-of-13 from the charity stripe for his team-high 20 points. Latimer had 13 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Statkus finished with 18 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Two more free throws by Burton gave USC Aiken its largest lead of the night, 10 points, 86-76. After that, the Pacers made eight-of-10 free throws to secure the four-point win.

Ernest Mangum finished with 19 points for Wingate while Chris Ransome contributed 16 points and eight boards off the bench. 

Both teams shot well. The Bulldogs connected on 33-of-64 shots for 51.6 percent. USCA made 29-of-59 for 49.2 percent. The Pacers held a 39-34 rebounding edge. The difference came at the free throw line where USC Aiken made 33-of-45 and Wingate hit on just nine-of-19.

USC Aiken got off to a quick start, racing to a 7-0 lead in the opening minute and a half of play. Burton's jumper at the 17:18 mark put the Pacers in front 11-2. Wingate answered with nine straight points, including two three-pointers from Miller, to tie the game at 13-13 with 15:02 before the break.

USCA's second four point lead came off Triplin's three pointer at the 10:01 mark. But the Pacers went cold, getting outscored 23-5 over the next nine minutes and watching Wingate build a 14-point lead, 43-29, with 1:57 remaining. Triplin hit six-of-11 shots from the field and finished with 16 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.

A three pointer by Greg Wenger with eight seconds to go sent the Bulldogs to the locker room ahead by 14, 47-33.

The Pacers open Peach Belt Conference play on Wednesday after winning two straight games in which they trailed by double digits in the second half of each.

" It's huge, two games like that where we got down and came back really helps our confidence level," Roberts said.

USC Aiken travels to Spartanburg, S.C., to face rival USC Spartanburg. Tip-off between the Pacers and the Rifles is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

SCORING:
Wingate (90): Keenan Dunn 11, Bryan Grier 5, Milos Mirkovic 4, Titus Miller 22, Ernest Mangum 19, Chris Ransome 16, Dorian James 2, Hristo Cenov 3, Greg Wenger 3, Brad Hinson 5

USC Aiken (94): Todd Williams 17, Minda Statkus 18, Curt Triplin 16, Bryant Latimer 13, Lee Burton 20, Jamall Gray 2, Trent Boyd 6, Martynas Valaitis 2