Box Score CLINTON, S.C.--USC Aiken shot just 27.8 percent and lost, for the first time this season, to Presbyterian College 59-45 in the second game of the 8th Annual South Atlantic/Peach Belt Clash hosted by Presbyterian in Clinton, S.C. Sean Dixon led the Blue Hose (2-2) with a game-high 20 points while Curt Triplin came off the bench to lead the Pacers (3-1) with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Arnold Coates' lay-up with 13:38 left in the first half put USC Aiken ahead by two, 9-7. Ryan Koppel tied things up for the third time 18 seconds later and Drew Biggs' three-pointer put Presbyterian College out in front by three, 12-9, with 12:49 remaining.

The Blue Hose edged out by seven on Dixon's free throw at the 6:46 mark, but the Pacers cut it down to two, 25-23, with just over a minute to go before intermission. Tray Ballenger's three-pointer with four seconds on the clock sent PC to the locker room leading by five, 28-23.

USCA made just eight-of-25 (32 percent) of its shots from the field in the first half but forced Presbyterian into 12 turnovers and held a 17-16 rebounding advantage. PC shot 47.6 percent (10-of-21) in the first 20 minutes.
Dixon's trey 38 seconds into the second half put the Blue Hose out in front 31-25, but an 8-1 Pacer run, including four points from Triplin, gave the visitors a one-point advantage, 33-32 with 13:56 left in the game. 

Presbyterian took the lead for good on a lay-up by Dixon with 10:46 showing on the clock. That basket began a 20-2 PC run that would last into the final two minutes of the game. During that span, USC Aiken made just one-of-12 from the field and missed all five attempts from the charity stripe. 

Biggs' jumper with 1:50 left in the game capped the run and gave the Blue Hose their largest lead, 20 points, 59-39. USCA ended the game with six unanswered to set the final score at 59-45.

The Pacers made just seven-of-29 (24.1 percent) from the field in the second half and went 0-for-11 from beyond the three-point arch. 

Josh Geyer scored 11 first half points but only added one to that total in the second 20 minutes of play. Biggs and Johann Collins each finished with 10 points for Presbyterian. 

The Pacers' will participate in day two of the South Atlantic/Peach Belt Clash on Saturday. USCA will face Newberry College at 6:00 p.m. Admission to the tournament will be $3 for adults with a canned good donation and free for children 12 & under with a canned donation. All donations will be split among the four schools to be given to area food banks prior to the Christmas holiday.

SCORING:
USC Aiken (45): Curt Triplin 13, Josh Geyer 12, Arnold Coates 6, Richard Blocker 4, Franchot Brown 4, Trent Boyd 2, Josh Poston 2, Kenny Burr 2, Marcus Robinson 0, Anthony Sampson 0, Theo Oates 0, Richard Glover 0

Presbyterian College (59): Sean Dixon 20, Johann Collins 10, Drew Biggs 10, Tray Ballenger 8, Martynas Versinskas 3, Ryan Koppel 3, Grant Herren 2, Quinton Ferrell 2, Brian Epperly 1, Pat Kiscaden 0