FLORENCE, S.C. – Two University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball players recorded a double-double, but in the end it would not be enough in the Pacers' 86-79 loss to Francis Marion on Wednesday evening at the Smith University Center.

The loss drops USC Aiken to 9-5 on the 2010-11 season. The Pacers, who are now 3-4 in Peach Belt Conference action, have lost three straight contests.

Francis Marion with the victory over USC Aiken improved to 9-3 (3-2 PBC).

The two teams were close in the beginning of the game with the score tied 13-13 in the early going. The Pacers changed things quickly though as they went on a 15-1 run that earned them a 28-14 lead with a little over seven minutes to play in the first half.

The Patriots would charge back in the first half, going on a 21-5 run to own a 35-33 lead with 1:30 left in the first half.

Francis Marion would eventually enter the halftime break with a 36-33 lead.

The Pacers would be down by as many as 16 points in the second half, but a feisty Pacer squad would be down just five points at 81-76 with 36 seconds remaining.

In the end, USC Aiken would not be able to get any closer with the Patriots picking up the 86-79 victory.

Michael Technow (Boca Raton, Fla./American) was the top scorer for the Pacers in the loss to Francis Marion, finishing with a game-high tying 16 points. Technow was 5-for-11 from the field. He also had 11 boards to claim a double-double.

Kevin Willis (Atlanta, Ga./Kaskaskia) claimed a double-double of his own in the game for USC Aiken with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Re'mon Nelson (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) and Chase Holmes (Chesnee, S.C./Presbyterian) were the final Pacers in double figures. Nelson had 13 points to go along with four assists, while Holmes had 12 points.

Four Francis Marion players finished in double figures as well with Liki Turner tying Technow for top scoring honors in the contest with 16 points. He also had nine rebounds to just miss on a double-double.

Francis Marion narrowly outshot the Pacers in the game with the Patriots shooting 44.2 percent. USC Aiken shot 44.1 percent in the game.

The USC Aiken men will next return to the hardwood for a rare home matinee with Clayton State at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15.

It will be Smith Financial and Tax Advisory and Johnson, Johnson, Whittle Law Firm day at the Convocation Center.

The USC Aiken-Clayton State game will be able to be followed through live stats on USC Aiken's official athletic website at www.PacerSports.com.