Box Score AIKEN-S.C.--Two Crusaders hit double doubles en route to a 73-64 win over USC Aiken (3-12, 1-8 PBC) tonight at "The Courthouse". A struggling Pacer squad fought hard throughout the first half of the game before letting North Greenville (7-12) stop their offense and grab the non-conference win. North Greenville, an independent team, trailed USCA most of the game but came through in the clutch to drive the game into overtime. (JOSH POSTON PICTURED)

Josh Burgess and Amonzo Gantt led the Crusader squad each tabbing double double nights, including 21 points a piece. The Pacers were able to control high-flying PJ Schumacher, who normally averages 14.6 ppg, and hold him to a mere three points and three rebounds.

USC Aikens' bench rode nearly the whole game, with three non-starters getting at least 35 minutes in the game. Josh Poston led the Pacers with 16 points, for the second-straight game in a row, pulling down six rebounds while shooting 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. 

Richard Glover had a career-high 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Kingsley Oguchi added 14 points and shot 4-of-6 from the three-point line.

Both teams played the ball even in the opening minutes with the lead changing hands four times through 10 minutes of play. The Pacers found their groove at 10:57 when Theo Oates hit a jumper inside the paint and propelled USCA on an 11-2 over the next six minutes. Down 22-32, the Crusaders fought right back. Schumacher hit his only basket of the night at 4:05 left in the half and sent North Greenville on a run of its own (12-3). The final seconds of the half ticked away with the Pacers leading by one.

The Pacers came out strong in the second half hitting a 13-5 run in the opening eight minutes to put them on top by nine (48-42). USC Aiken continued to dominate over the next five minutes, holding their lead by at least five points. Down by nine, the Crusaders began to fight back by draining big three's and slowing down the USCA's offense. 

Down by seven, North Greenville's Gantt hits a two inside the paint to get the Crusaders within five with just under three minutes left in the game. The next minutes and a half ticked by without either team hitting a bucket until Schumacher found Andrew Nipper inside who hit the jumper and got them within three.

Within 1:40 remaining pressure was on the Pacers to get a bucket. Kingsley Oguchi got down inside the post and shot a quick basket but it bounced off the rim and fell into the hands of a Crusader defender. With 29 ticks remaining Josh Burgess stepped up to the base line and hit the three for the Crusaders to tie the game. The finals seconds would tick away and the Pacers could not get a basket to fall.

Overtime went to favor the Crusaders who hit three unanswered buckets to give them a quick seven-point lead with 1:25 left. Three more missed opportunities for the Pacers help hand more offensive buckets to North Greenville who would go on to win it all 73-64.

The Pacers hit 36.6 percent from the field and North Greenville shot 39.4.
Newspaper Box Score
North Greenville vs USC Aiken
01/25/06 7:30 PM at Aiken, S.C. (The Courthouse)
At Aiken, S.C. (The Courthouse)

NORTH GREENVILLE 73, USC AIKEN 64

NORTH GREENVILLE (7-11)
Amonzo Gantt 8-17 1-3 21; Josh Burgess 7-11 1-2 21; Andrew Nipper 9-12 0-0 18; Jordan Richmond 1-12 3-4 5; Bob Richey 2-4 0-0 5; PJ Schumacher 1-14 0-0 3; Daniel Morbitzer 0-1 0-0 0; Nurminee Walker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-71 5-9 73.

USC AIKEN (3-13)
Poston, Josh 5-17 4-4 16; Oguchi, Kingsley 5-11 0-0 14; Glover, Richard 6-11 0-0 12; Oates, Theo 4-11 1-2 9; DePaula, Tiago 2-5 0-4 4; Coates, Arnold 2-4 0-0 4; Burr, Kenny 1-3 0-0 3; Sampson, Anthony 1-1 0-0 2; Varga, Lukas 0-2 0-0 0; Brown, Chris 0-4 0-0 0; Blocker, Richard 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-71 5-10 64.

North Greenville.............. 34 24 15 - 73
USC Aiken.......................... 35 23 6 - 64

3-point goals-North Greenville 12-39 (Josh Burgess 6-7; Amonzo Gantt 4-10; PJ Schumacher 1-13; Bob Richey 1-3; Jordan Richmond 0-6), USC Aiken 7-27 (Oguchi, Kingsley 4-6; Poston, Josh 2-8; Burr, Kenny 1-3; Brown, Chris 0-2; Blocker, Richard 0-2; Oates, Theo 0-2; Glover, Richard 0-4). Fouled out--North Greenville-None, USC Aiken-None. Rebounds-North Greenville 40 (Amonzo Gantt 13), USC Aiken 52 (Oates, Theo 9). Assists-North Greenville 24 (Amonzo Gantt 7), USC Aiken 14 (Glover, Richard 5). Total fouls-North Greenville 11, USC Aiken 12. A-288