Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--Georgia College & State University (12-6, 9-3 PBC) rallies from a 17-point first-half deficit en route to a 98-89 overtime victory versus the USC Aiken Pacers (4-14, 2-9 PBC). GC&SU, who were tied for second in the Peach Belt Standings, may now have a chance to clinch onto first place. The Bobcats hold the overall series in their favor 20-14 including winning the last five consecutive meetings. The Pacers' Richard Blocker had another solid night on the court with 31 points, nabbing 25 in the first half alone. In the second half, however, GC&SU managed to freeze out Blocker to get the win at "The Courthouse" Wednesday night. (RICHARD BLOCKER PICTURED)

The Bobcats came out of the gate quickly with Jeremy Mayweather leading GC&SU with two slam dunks in the opening two minutes to get ahead 9-3. But at 14:13 on the clock the Blocker show began when his three-point bucket gave the Pacers the lead for the first time in the game (13-11) and that was just the beginning. 

Over the next eight minutes Blocker would take USCA on a 22-9, leading the way with 14 of the 22 points. Ahead 35-20 at 6:22 left in the half it was the Pacers show who got up as many as 17 points before the half ticked away, ending 47-33. Blocker hit 25 points and pulled down six rebounds to give USCA the double point advantage.

USCA hit a stellar 62.1 percent from the field in the first half, including 66.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Into the second half the Pacers rolled on from Blockers' first-half fire but slowly the Bobcats defense began to put out the flames. Down by 17 with just under 12 minutes remaining, Cooper Sellers hit a long three and sent GC&SU on a 20-6 run over the next four minutes, getting the Bobcats to within three (68-65).

At 2:04 and ahead by one the Pacers' Josh Poston fouls Ronnie Dennis during a layup who makes the basket and goes to the line to give the Bobcats the three-point play and the 76-74 lead. Arnold Coates comes right back with 2-for-2 from the charity stripe to tie the game 76-76 with 1:46 remaining.

Another Pacer foul sends Aaron Clark to line, who goes 2-for-2 giving the Bobcats back the lead (78-76) with 1:22 on the clock. The Pacers get the ball back down court but with a full-court press defense by GC&SU, USCA is unable to get a clean shot off and Oguchi forces a three that doesn't fall. 

Back down on the Bobcat end, Dennis is fouled who only hits one to give the Pacers, down by three, a chance to tie the game with 34 seconds left. Another race around the paint continues as the Bobcat pressure defense keeps the Pacers at bay. With 15 ticks remaining, Poston finds his way to the top of the key and leaps forward as the shot clock runs down and hits the huge three, tying the game 79-79. 

GC&SU gets one last chance for the regulation win and sends Bryan Harrison up for the three but hits the rim and bounces off, sending the game into overtime.

An experienced Bobcat team found its groove quickly into overtime, with a 8-2 run, capping a 87-81 lead that would hold on through the game. GC&SU would go on to win it 98-89.

Andre Smith led the Bobcats with 17 points, while four other players were in double figures. Bryan Harrison had a double double night with 16 points and 11 assists.

The Pacers Tiago DePaula had a career night with 17 points and eight rebounds. Kenny Burr and Oguchi had a season high assist mark with six and five respectively.

For the game the Pacers hit 52.2 percent from the field, just edging the Bobcats who posted 50.0 percent.
USC Aiken will travel to Armstrong Atlantic Saturday, February 4, to play the pirates at 4 p.m. GC&SU will host Augusta State on the same day at 7:30 p.m.
Newspaper Box Score
Georgia College & State Univ. vs USC Aiken
02/01/06 7:30 PM at Aiken, S.C. (The Courthouse)
At Aiken, S.C. (The Courthouse)

GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIV. 98, USC AIKEN 89

GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIV. (12-6, 9-3 PBC)
Smith, Andre 6-7 3-3 17; Harrison, Bryan 5-10 3-4 16; Clark, Aaron 5-10 6-8 16; Mayweather, Jeremy 6-13 2-3 15; Dennis, Ronnie 4-7 4-5 14; Sellers, Cooper 3-6 0-0 9; Gibbs, Aaron 3-9 0-0 8; Boyd, Chris 1-2 1-2 3; Tiller, Bishop 0-0 0-0 0; Warden, Jay 0-2 0-0 0; Childs, Shejdie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-66 19-25 98.

USC AIKEN (4-14, 2-9 PBC)
Blocker, Richard 11-18 2-2 31; Coates, Arnold 7-11 3-4 17; DePaula, Tiago 7-11 3-5 17; Poston, Josh 5-9 0-0 12; Oates, Theo 3-4 0-0 6; Burr, Kenny 1-4 0-0 3; Oguchi, Kingsley 1-5 0-0 2; Varga, Lukas 0-4 1-2 1; Glover, Richard 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 35-67 9-13 89.

Georgia College & State Univ.. 33 46 19 - 98
USC Aiken.................................. 47 32 10 - 89

3-point goals-Georgia College & State Univ. 13-29 (Sellers, Cooper 3-5; Harrison, Bryan 3-6; Dennis, Ronnie 2-3; Smith, Andre 2-3; Gibbs, Aaron 2-7; Mayweather, Jeremy 1-3; Warden, Jay 0-2), USC Aiken 10-23 (Blocker, Richard 7-9; Poston, Josh 2-4; Burr, Kenny 1-3; Oates, Theo 0-1; Oguchi, Kingsley 0-1; Varga, Lukas 0-4; Glover, Richard 0-1). Fouled out--Georgia College & State Univ.-None, USC Aiken-Oguchi, Kingsley. Rebounds-Georgia College & State Univ. 33 (Dennis, Ronnie 7; Clark, Aaron 7), USC Aiken 36 (Blocker, Richard 12). Assists-Georgia College & State Univ. 23 (Harrison, Bryan 11), USC Aiken 24 (Burr, Kenny 6). Total fouls-Georgia College & State Univ. 16, 
USC Aiken 24. A-865