Box Score

DAHLONEGA, Ga. -  USC Aiken erased a large second half deficit and pushed North Georgia to the limit in the final minutes, but the Saints were able to hold on for an 81-76 Peach Belt Conference victory over the Pacers on Monday evening.

The loss drops USC Aiken to 9-6 on the 2009-10 season. The loss is the third consecutive for the Pacers, who are now 4-4 in PBC action. North Georgia improved to 9-6 overall, including 4-1 in the PBC with its victory over the Pacers.

The Pacers were down by as many as seven points in the opening five minutes of the game at 12-5. USC Aiken would then go on a 10-2 run to take the lead at 15-14 with 12:02 remaining in the first half. The Saints would control play for the next seven minutes, owning an eight-point 32-24 lead with 4:51 left prior to intermission.

A few minutes later, USC Aiken was down by nine points at 39-30 with 1:34 left in the first half of play. Sterling Council (Camden, S.C./Camden) made sure that the Pacers would enter the halftime break down by just six points, nailing a three-pointer with two seconds left in the first half to set the halftime score at 39-33 in North Georgia's favor.

North Georgia shot a staggering 60 percent (12-for-20) from the field in the first half as a team. Despite shooting just 37 percent (13-of-35) and coupled with the gaudy offensive percentage by North Georgia in the first half, USC Aiken still found itself very much in the game due to Mark Brown (Charlotte, N.C./Hickory Grove Christian), Byron Faison (Sumter, S.C./Winthrop) and Council combining for 27 of USC Aiken's 33 points in the half.

The second half began with North Georgia going a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at the time at 13 points at 46-33.

The Pacers would go down by as many 18 points (54-36) from there, but they would battle back and after a Casey McMasters (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) three-pointer with 11:04 left in the second half the North Georgia advantage was just 10 at 57-47. Brandon Shephard (Indian Trail, N.C./High Point) would then cut it to single digits for the Pacers at 57-50 after a three-pointer of his own with 10:21 left on the game clock.

Three minutes later, USC Aiken found itself down nine to the Saints at 69-60. McMasters' two triples in a row with just over five minutes left in the game shortly thereafter made the North Georgia lead just three at 69-66. After a Saint free throw, USC Aiken's Rashad Flowers (Charleston, S.C./Garrett Academy) hit a jumper with 4:25 left to leave the Pacers behind by just two points at 70-68.

The Pacers kept pushing and after a clutch jumper from Council with 1:33 remaining the Saint advantage was just one at 74-73. North Georgia's Carl Taylor then extended the Saint lead back to four at 77-73 with 44 seconds left on a three-point play. Taylor was fouled by Kevin Willis (Atlanta, Ga./Kaskaskia) in the act of making the lay-up. After a Council missed jump shot, Michael Moynihan made a lay-up for the Saints to extend their lead to six at 79-73.

The Pacers continued fighting as McMasters on an assist from Brown knocked down a three-pointer with five seconds remaining to leave the Pacers behind just three points at 79-76.

McMasters then fouled Taylor, who promptly hit two free throws with four seconds left in the game. The Pacers would not be able to get any closer with the Saints barely holding on for the five-point 81-76 victory.

USC Aiken finished the contest shooting 45 percent (27-for-60) as a team. The Pacers were strong from beyond the arc in the game, hitting on 12 of their 23 shot attempts (52.2 percent) from three-point range. North Georgia shot a collective 23-for-48 (47.9 percent) from the field in the game.

McMasters led four Pacers in double figures in the game. The senior shot 60 percent from the field in the contest, connecting on six of his 10 shot attempts overall. McMasters was 5-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Brown finished the loss connecting on four of his seven shot attempts for a total of 15 points. Council was 5-for-7 from the field in collecting 11 points.

Flowers finished with a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Flowers only missed one shot in the game, hitting on five of his six attempts. He now has three double-doubles in the 2009-10 season.

Five Saints finished in double figures with Taylor tying McMasters for game-high honors with 18 points. North Georgia's Andrew Bennett collected a double-double of his own with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

USC Aiken's men's and women's basketball teams will next return home for the first two of three home doubleheaders. The Pacer men and women will first take on new league member Flagler for a PBC men's and women's basketball twinbill on Wednesday, Jan. 20. The doubleheader will be Leavelle McCampbell Middle School Night at the Convocation Center. It will also be Beef 'O Brady's night with special contests sponsored by Beef 'O Brady's taking place during both the men's and women's games that evening. The action will get underway at 5:30 with the Pacer women taking on the Flagler women for the first time in school history. The Pacer men will then take on Flagler for the first time as league members at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The week will conclude with the Pacers taking on proximity and league rival Lander for a PBC men's and women's basketball twinbill at the Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan. 23. The night will be sponsored by St. Paul Lutheran Church, which will honor its basketball teams during the evening. It will also be Millbrook Baptist Church Upward Basketball Night at the Convocation Center. Millbrook Baptist Church Upward Basketball and Cheerleading is a ministry of Millbrook Baptist Church and is open to the Aiken Community.

During both of the doubleheaders at the Convocation Center to close out the week, local favorite Burns Dance Studio will be performing for all those in attendance as well.

For those unable to make it to any of the game on the week as always the USC Aiken Sports Information Department has you covered. Live stats and a live webcast will be available for Pacer fans who are unable to attend the games. The live stats and webcast can be accessed for free by clicking on the live stats link and the video link at www.pacersports.com.