Box Score PEMBROKE, N.C.--USC Aiken defeated UNC Pembroke, 81-70, tonight at the Jones Athletic Center in Pembroke, N.C., giving Steve Franklin his first win as USCA's Interim Head Coach. After the Pacers (5-7, 1-1 PBC) fell behind 6-0 early in the game, Franklin replaced all five starters and the subs used a 17-4 run to take control and USCA never looked back.

Josh Geyer led four Pacers in double figures with 18 points. Frank Foster scored a game-high 20 points for UNC Pembroke (2-12, 0-3 PBC).

Arne Danielsen's lay-up gave the Braves an early 6-0 lead with 18:07 to go in the first half. USC Aiken didn't knock down its first field goal until the 16:50 mark when Richard Glover's jumper made it 6-4. Glover's three-pointer cut the UNCP lead to 8-7 with 15:48 before intermission. Marcus Robinson's lay-up gave the Pacers the lead, 9-8, and USC Aiken would never trail again. Kenny Burr's jumper capped the run and made it 17-10 with 12:42 showing on the clock. 

A lay-up by Curt Triplin began another USCA run. The Pacers put together an 11-2 spurt, with Geyer and Arnold Coates scoring four points each, to push out in front by 17 points, 34-17, with 5:44 to go before intermission. USC Aiken maintained the 17-point advantage, 38-21, heading into the locker room at the break.

Almost a minute and a half into the second stanza, another lay-up by Triplin gave the Pacers their largest lead, 18 points, 40-22. Geyer's three-pointer with 17:15 left in the game gave USCA a second 18-point advantage, 43-25.

UNC Pembroke didn't quit. Tony Carr's jumper at the 14:44 mark began a run of 13 unanswered points by the Braves. Carr and Frank Foster each scored five points during the run. Foster's lay-up capped the run and drew UNCP to within four points, 49-45, with 12:05 remaining.

Foster finished nine-of-15 from the field and two-of-six from beyond the three-point arch for his game-high 20 points. Carr recorded the game's only double-double, finishing with 12 points, on five-of-seven shooting, and 10 rebounds.

UNC Pembroke would get no closer than four points. The Pacers connected on 21-of-26 free throw attempts in the final 12 minutes to secure the victory.

Burr finished with a career-tying 15 points. Triplin totaled 14 and Coates added 10. Geyer added four rebounds, four assists and four steals to his 18 points.

USC Aiken shot a season best 56.5 percent from the field, connecting on 26-of-46 shot attempts. The Braves made just 32.1 percent of their shots in the first half but hit on 43.6 percent in the second half and 38.8 percent (26-of-67) for the game. UNCP went seven-of-27 from beyond the three-point arch for 25.9 percent.

USCA held a 14-point advantage at the free throw line. The Pacers made 25-of-31 (80.6 percent) attempts from the charity stripe compared to 11-of-18 (61.1 percent) for the Braves. UNC Pembroke forced 29 Pacer turnovers but committed 25 of their own.

The Pacers will play the second of three consecutive road games on Saturday when they travel to face Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga. Game time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

SCORING:
USC Aiken (81): Josh Geyer 18, Kenny Burr 15, Curt Triplin 14, Arnold Coates 10, Josh Poston 9, Marcus Robinson 8, Richard Glover 5, Trent Boyd 2, Richard Blocker 0, Anthony Sampson 0, Theo Oates 0

UNC Pembroke (70): Frank Foster 20, Jerrell Hunter 12, Tony Carr 12, Jabarr Adams 9, Rollie Boone 5, Ford Lawrence 4, Anthony Crank 3, Terrance Grant 3, Arne Danielsen 2, Gabe Pinkston 0, Lawrence Johnson 0