Box Score Box Score
AUGUSTA, Ga. - The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team could not complete a regular season sweep over rival Augusta State, falling 73-59 to the 12th-ranked Jaguars inside Christenberry Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.
The Pacers were trying to win back-to-back games over their rival from across the Savannah River after upsetting the then sixth-ranked Jaguars days earlier, 71-68 at the Convocation Center in Aiken, S.C. on Jan. 25.
The Pacers struggled to find their shooting form in the first half, especially from three-point range. USC Aiken connected on just 2-of-10 three-pointers to finish 9-of-24 from the floor in the first half.
Byron Faison (Sumter, S.C./Winthrop) led the Pacers scoring effort in the first half with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Augusta State exerted their dominance inside over the first 20 minutes of regulation, outscoring the Pacers 24-10 inside and converting USC Aiken's 10 turnovers into 16 points.
The Jaguars finished the first half shooting 13-of-28 from the floor while connecting on 10-of-11 free throws. USC Aiken did not attempt a free throw during the first half.
ASU opened the second half on a 15-6 run, to lead the game 52-26 at the 14:42 mark, which was their largest lead of the night.
USC Aiken outscored ASU over the final twenty minutes, 39-36, but the Pacers could not make up the difference of their first half deficit. ASU maintained a double-digit advantage over the Pacers for the duration of the second half en route to the 14-point win.
In the second half the Pacers improved their shooting from the floor, hitting 13-of-24 field goal attempts to finish the game shooting 42.3 percent.
USC Aiken's bench outscored ASU's 43-9, but the Pacers conceded the rebound advantage to the Jaguars 36-24.
Faison continued to impress with his scoring ability in the second half, finishing the night with a team-high 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
Ronald Zimmerman (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley) also finished in double-figures for the Pacers, scoring all of his career-high 11 points in the second half.
Seth Leonard (York, Pa./William-Penn) added eight points, four rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes of work for the Pacers.
Augusta State was led in scoring by Alex Smith's 19 points, while Fred Brathwaite added a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
USC Aiken (12-7, 7-5, PBC) will stay on the road for their next contest on Feb. 8 against Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. The Pacers will then return home to face the other Peach Belt Conference newcomer, the Montevallo Falcons, on Feb. 11 at 7:30 pm.
