Box Score GREENWOOD, S.C.--USC Aiken ended its 2004-05 regular season with a 73-69 loss to Lander University tonight at Finis Horne Arena in Greenwood, S.C. The Pacers (6-20, 2-14 PBC) trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half, clawed back to within four in the final minute of play but couldn't get any closer. Kenny Burr led USCA with a career-high 18 points. Jarred Jackson scored 19 points to lead the Bearcats (17-10, 10-6 PBC).

The Pacers will begin play in the 2005 Peach Belt Conference Tournament on Wednesday. As the fifth seed from the North Division, USC Aiken will face the University of North Florida (14-16, 9-7 PBC), the South Division's fourth seed. Game time has yet to be determined. 

The meeting will be the fifth between the two schools in the conference tournament. The Pacers are 4-0 against the Ospreys in the PBC Tournament, including a 90-58 win in last year's tourney. 

Leading by six at halftime, Lander used a 15-4 run to start the second half to build a 17-point advantage, 49-32, with 14:40 left in the game. Richard Gilliam keyed the run with a three-pointer to start it and a trey to finish it. In between he connected on another three-pointer, grabbed four rebounds and dished out an assist. The lone Bearcat senior finished the night with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Scottie Smith's free throw with 10:46 remaining gave Lander its largest lead, 19 points, 58-39. The Pacers answered however with a 12-1 run as the Bearcats went 0-for-6 from the field and turned the ball over four times. Franchot Brown's free throw capped the run and brought USCA to within eight, 59-51, with 4:17 showing on the clock.

After Lander pushed back in front by 12 points with just over three minutes to go, USC Aiken used six unanswered points to cut the deficit in half, 63-57. Jarred Jackson's two free throws made it 69-60 with just 46 seconds left in the game.

The Bearcats committed two turnovers in the next 23 seconds and Richard Glover's jumper had the Pacers down by five, 69-64, with 20 seconds remaining. Josh Poston's three-pointer with only nine seconds to go made it a four-point game, 71-67, but Jackson finished of a string of six Lander free throws on six attempts inside the final minute of play to secure the victory. Burr knocked down a jumper as time ran out to set the final score, 73-69. 

USC Aiken out-rebounded the Bearcats 43-41, forced 25 turnovers and held a 25-18 advantage in points off turnovers. The Pacers however made just 34.8 percent (23-of-66) of their shots from the field, including 31.8 percent (seven-of-22) from beyond the three-point arch. Lander shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56).
SCORING:
USC Aiken (69): Kenny Burr 18, Josh Poston 12, Franchot Brown 8, Trent Boyd 7, Arnold Coates 7, Theo Oates 6, Richard Glover 5, Richard Blocker 4, Anthony Sampson 2, Josh Geyer 0 

Lander (73): Jarred Jackson 19, Richard Gilliam 15, Emanuel Hodrea 8, Derek Brooks 8, Scottie Smith 7, Jahi Rawlings 7, Quentin Martin 5, Joe McEachern 2, J.T. Greene 2, Michael Griffin 0, Jason Davis 0