ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Despite a valiant second half comeback effort from the University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team, Flagler won a battle of unbeaten teams by besting the fifth-ranked Pacers, 79-73, on Saturday afternoon.

The loss is the first of the year for the fifth-ranked Pacers. USC Aiken is now 5-1 (1-1 PBC). In what has to be considered one of its biggest wins since joining the Peach Belt Conference last year, Flagler with the victory improves to 6-0 (1-0 PBC).

Flagler led by as many as 18 points in the first half at 49-31. In fact, the Saints would lead by double digits for most of the first half and the first 12 minutes of the second half.

USC Aiken would cut the Flagler lead to nine at 68-59 after a Jesse Seilern (Innsbruck, Austria/Kapfenberg) three-pointer with 7:46 remaining in the second half.

Three minutes later after a Byron Faison (Sumter, S.C./Crestwood) jumper and a Alvin Brown (Fort Washington, Md./James Madison) free throw the Flagler lead had been cut to just seven at 71-64. Kevin Willis (Atlanta, Ga./Kaskaskia) and Seilern then picked up two points each over the next minute to pull the Pacers to within four in the contest at 72-68 with exactly three minutes remaining.

Flagler was able to get a Kenny Moore lay-up to go ahead by six points at 74-68, but Seilern once again stepped up by knocking down another trey to pull the Pacers to within three at 74-71 with 1:42 remaining.

Shortly thereafter after a Brown steal, Kenny Manigault (Summerville, S.C./Wichita State) hit a lay-up to pull the Pacers behind by just one at 74-73 with 55 seconds remaining.

That would prove to be as close as the Pacers would be able to get with Flagler scoring its next five points on free throws to earn the six-point win.

USC Aiken outscored Flagler 40-30 in the second stanza.

USC Aiken finished Saturday's loss shooting 47.4 percent (27-for-57) as a team. Flagler concluded its win on Saturday hitting upon 52.1 percent (25-for-48) of its shots as a team.

Four Pacers finished in double figures with Myles Holley (Norfolk, Va./Nebraska) leading the way with 13 points. Seilern finished with 12 points, while Faison and Willis both had 11.

The Saints had four players in double figures as well with Moore leading the way with 14 points and 10 rebounds.Flagler's Chad July was the top scorer overall in the game with 19 points. He also had eight rebounds.

USC Aiken now has a week off to focus on exams.

The Pacers will next return to the hardwood for a road game against PBC rival Columbus State in Columbus, Ga. on Saturday, Dec. 4. The USC Aiken-Columbus State men's basketball game is scheduled to get underway at approximately 3:30 p.m. The game will be able to be followed live on USC Aiken's official athletic website at www.PacerSports.com.