Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken's men's basketball team lost to Mount Olive College, 85-71, tonight in the final game of the 2003 Conoco Phillips Christmas Classic sponsored by United Energy Distributors, at "The Courthouse" in Aiken, S.C. In the first game of day two, Tusculum College defeated Augusta State University, 91-78. Lee Burton led USCA (4-5) with a game-high 23 points. Maurice Horton led four Trojans (6-2) in double-figures with 17 points.

Despite playing without the services of injured forwards Todd Williams and Minda Statkus and center Jamall Gray, USC Aiken took a one point lead, 33-32, into the locker room at the half. However, Mount Olive outscored the Pacers 15-2 during a four and a half minute span in the second half to take control of the game.

Johnny Galarza's three pointer 19 seconds into the second half gave Mount Olive the lead for good. Horton's bucket at the 14:21 began the Trojan run and 13 straight points gave MOC its largest lead of the game, 18 points, 64-46, with 11:15 left to play.

The Pacers had a chance to close the gap to four points but couldn't capitalize at the free throw line. Curt Triplin hit just one of two at the 8:50 mark and following a personal and technical foul on Sharome Holloway, Burton and Triplin combined to miss all four free throw attempts. Burton's three pointer with 8:00 to play would have cut the lead to 64-60, but instead Mount Olive still led by nine, 64-55. 

Triplin finished the night with 20 points and four rebounds. Burton hit six-of-12 from the field, three-of-seven from deep and eight-of-11 from the free throw line. The senior added four rebounds and two assists to go along with his game-high 23 points.

USCA jumped out of the gate early with a 6-0 lead and hit seven of its first eight shots from the field. Burton's lay up and free throw with 15:56 left in the first half gave the Pacers their largest lead of the game, seven points, at 12-5.

After three consecutive offensive rebounds by the Trojans, Elijah Rouse cut the Pacer lead to two, 19-17, with a jumper at the 10:48 mark.

Rebounding allowed Mount Olive to stay close while USC Aiken was shooting 68.8 percent in the first half. The Trojans hit just 34.3 percent in the game's first 20 minutes but held a 13-1 advantage on the offensive glass and held a 35-16 edge in shot attempts at the break. MOC out-rebounded the Pacers by 11 for the game, 36-25.

An NBA-range three pointer by Leroy Williams pushed USC Aiken back in front by five, 30-25, with 4:46 to play in the opening stanza. Mount Olive closed the half with four unanswered points to close with in one at the break.

Horton connected on six-of-11 shots from the field and all four free throws to lead Mount Olive with 17 points. Marcus West scored 13 points and added six rebounds. 

The Pacers will be off until Jan. 3 when they host St. Andrews Presbyterian College at "The Courthouse" in Aiken, S.C. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

SCORING:
Mount Olive College (85): Janson Greene 4, Sean Barnett 13, Marcus West 10, Johnny Galarza 6, Brad McDougald 11, Maurice Horton 17, Victor Young 8, Sharome Holloway 4, Elton Coffield 2, Elijah Rouse 4, Chris Bartley 

USC Aiken (71): Curt Triplin 20, Leroy Williams 8, Mira Jonuska 0, Bryant Latimer 11, Lee Burton 23, Trent Boyd 2, Martynas Valaitis 7