Box Score PEMBROKE, N.C.--USC Aiken made nine-of-17 three-point attempts and connected on 52.9 percent of its shots from the field on the way to beating UNC Pembroke, 90-81, tonight in a match-up of Peach Belt Conference men's basketball teams in Pembroke, N.C. Five players scored in double-figures for the Pacers (9-14, 3-9 PBC) led by 19 points from Lee Burton. Travis Wallace scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Braves (3-19, 2-10 PBC).

Starting for the first time in his USCA career, Martynas Valaitis gave the Pacers an early 2-0 lead with a jumper at the 19:38 mark. Back-to-back three-pointers by Burton gave USC Aiken a seven point advantage, 12-5, with 16:39 remaining in the first half. His third trey put the visitors in front by 10 with 15:55 on the clock.

UNC Pembroke answered with a 15-4 run starting with Wallace's basket. Damien Goodman capped the run with a jumper and gave the Braves their first lead of the game, 30-29. 

The two teams exchanged one-point leads until USC Aiken rolled off the final nine points of the half. Burton had five of the nine points including his fourth three-pointer on four first half attempts as the Pacers went to the locker room leading 40-32.

Minda Statkus extended the USCA lead to 10 just over a minute into the second half. Ricardo Williams' three-pointer followed by a bucket from Wallace cut the Pembroke deficit in half, 46-41, with 18:24 to go.

A 9-0 run by the Pacers, the final eight of which were scored by Curt Triplin, gave USC Aiken a 14-point advantage. A three-pointer by Valaitis at the 8:08 mark gave USCA its largest lead of the game, 16 points, 72-56. UNCP would trail by 16 on two more occasions over the next two minutes.

The Braves scored 10 unanswered points to draw within six with just under three minutes to play, but the Pacers made 11-of-12 free throws in the final 1:09 to secure the victory.

Bryant Latimer finished with 17 points for USCA, 14 of which were scored at the charity stripe. Triplin and Statkus each scored 14 points and Todd Williams added 12 points and a team-high six rebounds.

Wallace hit on nine-of-11 shots from the field and all nine of his free throw attempts for his game-high 27 points. Eight of his 12 boards were off the offensive glass. Goodman finished with 16 points and Mark Salazar added 14 points.

The Braves made 52.5 percent (32-of-61) of their shots for the game, but connected on just two-of-17 attempts from beyond the three-point arch.

The Pacers will return to action on Wednesday when the host USC Spartanburg at "The Courthouse" on the USC Aiken campus. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 

SCORING:
UNC Pembroke (81): Ricardo Williams 7, Frank Foster 7, Anthony Crank 10, Damien Goodman 16, Travis Wallace 27, Josh Lutkus 0, Eric Ehui 0, Mark Salazar 14

USC Aiken (90): Bryant Latimer 17, Martynas Valaitis 9, Lee Burton 19, Todd Williams 12, Minda Statkus 14, Curt Triplin 14, Leroy Williams 3, Jamall Gray 0, Trent Boyd 2, Cameron Conover 0