Box Score DAHLONEGA, Ga.--In a record-breaking night, USC Aiken (4-13, 2-8 PBC) defeats conference newcomers North Georgia College and State University (9-8, 6-6) 111-104 at Memorial Gymnasium Saturday night. In a fan-friendly, offensively-thrilling game, the Pacers get their second conference win of the season. First year Head Coach Vince Alexander gets his first conference road game and his first road win all season. USCA's 111 points is the highest the team has hit versus a Peach Belt opponent and their first 100-plus game since Nov. 18, 1998. Other than beating UNC Pembroke in Pembroke, N.C., the Pacers have not won a PBC game on the road since Feb. 12, 2003. (RICHARD BLOCKER PICTURED)

The combined total (215) breaks the previous Pacer record of 199 that was hit the last time these two teams met on December 3, 2005. North Georgia and USCA upheld the same excitement achieved during the last game when the Saints got by the Pacers 106-93 in overtime.

The Pacers offense was rolling Saturday night as they hit 56.5 percent from the field, a number they haven't hit higher than since their season opener against Catawba on Nov. 15. USC Aiken hasn't hit over 50 percent since their loss to Armstrong Atlantic on Dec. 30. The Pacer defense also held North Georgia to under 50 percent from the field.

Senior Richard Blocker had a stellar night, one for the books in fact, who hit a career-high 39 points, and just six points shy of the Pacer record for points in a single game. Blocker had an amazing night on defense, pulling down nine rebounds and stealing the ball five times, a feat no Pacer has achieved thus far on the season.

The game began in North Georgia's favor, with the Saints hitting a quick 6-0 run to put them up by nine (23-14) with 13:02 on the clock. NGCSU continued to hold the game until Blocker knocked back one of his seven three's of the night at 8:40 to cut the Saints' lead to four (32-28). Just two minutes later a foul by North Georgia's Mark Trust sent Kenny Burr to the line who knocked back both free throws, tying the game 34-34.

The Pacers then took the lead off a Blocker jumper at 6:35 left in the half. Up by two, the Pacers' Anthony Sampson hit one-two from the line giving way to the offensive rebound by Kingsley Oguchi. Oguchi sent the ball down court to Richard Glover who kicked it back up top to Blocker who knocked down the trey, sending the Pacers on a 12-2 run in the final minutes of the half, giving USCA a 10-point lead (59-49).
The Pacer defense forced 10 North Georgia turnovers in the first half, giving way to 21 converted points off their defense.

USC Aiken's offense continued to roll on into the second half who extended their lead to 16 points after back-to-back three's by Blocker and Josh Poston at 17:47. The Pacers continued to ride a double-digit lead until Trust is fouled and hits one-of-two from the line and cuts the margin to nine points (81-72). However, another quick 8-0 Pacer run puts them back on top by 15 with just under seven minutes to play.

At 2:07, two Pacer technical fouls send Matt Causey to the line to shoot four. Causey knocks back all the free throws and kicks off a 9-0 Saints' run who get within four (102-98) with just over one minute left in the game. With no timeouts left, North Georgia tries to set up offensive plays but fails to get anything rolling and is forced to foul. USC Aiken hits most of the game-deciding charity stripe buckets and goes on to finish 111-104.

Blocker, Poston, Oguchi, Burr, and Theo Oates all hit double figure points for the Pacers. Oguchi was just one point short of his career high with 17 points.

Anthony Rowe hit a double double for the Saints with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Five other North Georgia players were in double figure points, and leading the pack was Trust with 26.

The Pacers will host Georgia College and State on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m. North Georgia will host Francis Marion on the same day and time.

Newspaper Box Score
USC Aiken vs. North Georgia
01/28/06 5:30 pm at Dahlonega, Ga. (Memorial Gymnasium)
At Dahlonega, Ga. (Memorial Gymnasium)

USC AIKEN 111, NORTH GEORGIA 104

USC AIKEN (4-13, 2-8)
Blocker, Richard 16-23 0-0 39; Oguchi, Kingsley 6-10 3-4 17; Poston, Josh 4-10 4-8 14; Burr, Kenny 2-5 5-5 10; Oates, Theo 4-8 2-2 10; Coates, Arnold 4-6 0-2 8; Sampson, Anthony 1-2 1-2 4; Varga, Lukas 0-2 3-4 3; Brown, Chris 0-0 2-4 2; DePaula, Tiago 1-1 0-2 2; Glover, Richard 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 39-69 20-33 111.

NORTH GEORGIA (9-8, 6-6)
Trust, Mark 10-14 6-8 26; Causey, Matt 7-20 8-8 23; Causey, Mark 7-13 5-5 20; Mitchell, Charles 4-8 2-2 13; Rowe, Anthony 4-7 2-3 10; Wehunt, Buzz 3-10 4-4 10; Bennett, Andrew 1-1 0-0 2; Shoupes, Robert 0-0 0-0 0; Millsap, Jakirra 0-0 0-0 0; Shaw, Colby 0-0 0-0 0; Dickinson, Greg 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 36-74 27-30 104.

USC Aiken....................... 59 52 - 111
North Georgia................. 49 55 - 104

3-point goals-USC Aiken 13-26 (Blocker, Richard 7-12; Poston, Josh 2-6; Oguchi, Kingsley 2-3; Burr, Kenny 1-3; Sampson, Anthony 1-1; Varga, Lukas 0-1), North Georgia 5-22 (Mitchell, Charles 3-4; Causey, Mark 1-4; Causey, Matt 1-6; Dickinson, Greg 0-1; Wehunt, Buzz 0-7). Fouled out—USC Aiken-Burr, Kenny; Coates, Arnold; Oguchi, Kingsley, North Georgia-Rowe, Anthony; Causey, Mark. Rebounds-USC Aiken 35 (Blocker, Richard 9), North Georgia 43 (Rowe, Anthony 11). Assists-USC Aiken 20 (Poston, Josh 4), North Georgia 20 (Causey, Matt 9). Total fouls-USC Aiken 30, North Georgia 27. A-713