AIKEN, S.C. – Re'mon Nelson sparked a thrilling comeback that saw the University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team erase a 12-point deficit in the final five minutes in a 67-65 victory over Elizabeth City State in the 2011 Southeastern Tool-Don Cheeks-Dr. John Riley USC Aiken Pre-Holiday Classic at the Convocation Center on Friday evening.

The victory over the Vikings on Friday evening marked USC Aiken's sixth straight win. It also helped avenge an earlier 70-66 loss to Elizabeth City State (6-3) in Elizabeth City, N.C. on Nov. 19, 2011.

Down 60-48 with 4:44 remaining in the game, Nelson, strong free throw shooting and resolve helped USC Aiken (7-1) eradicate the 12-point deficit in its eventual two-point win.

Nelson (Columbus, Ohio/Canal Winchester) entered the final stretch of the game having gone scoreless. He was 0-for-7 from the field leading up to the final 3:37 of the contest.

The score 61-52 in favor of Elizabeth City State with 3:37 left in the game, Nelson was finally able to get on the scoreboard with two free throws to set the score at 61-54.

The Vikings would go ahead by nine on its next possession after a lay-up by Glenn Patterson. Jesse Seilern (Innsbruck, Austria/Kapfenberg) would then hit a shot for USC Aiken to pull the Pacers back to within seven at 63-56 with 3:13 to play in the game. 

A turnover and a Sterling Council (Camden, S.C./Camden) steal for USC Aiken shortly thereafter would lead to a Maurice Hubbard (Centreville,Va./Ball State) lay-up in the paint to pull the Pacers within five with under three minutes to play.

Another Viking turnover turned into Pacer points a little while later when Nelson hit a jumper to set the score at 63-60 with 2:21 remaining.

Omar Jones would then hit a free throw for the Vikings before Nelson hit another driving lay-up to pull the Pacers within just two at 64-62 with 2:03 on the game clock.

The Pacers were able to take the lead next when Nelson was fouled in the act of making a lay-up. Nelson calmly hit the ensuing free throw to pull the Pacers ahead 65-64.

Elizabeth City State's Marquie Cooke tied the game at 65-65 with 45 seconds left by making one of two free throws. 

Nelson then put the punctuation mark on a stretch that saw him score all 11 of his points in the final 3:37 of the game by hitting a jumper with 10 seconds left in the game to seal the Pacer victory.

In total, USC Aiken closed the game on a 19-5 run to claim the thrilling victory.

USC Aiken ended the game shooting 42.9 percent (24-for-56) as a team. Elizabeth City State shot 52.2 percent (24-for-46) as a squad. 

The Pacers forced Elizabeth City State into 19 turnovers. They opportunistically were able to convert the 19 Viking miscues into 24 points.

Three USC Aiken players finished in double figures with Jeremiah Pojah (Houston, Texas/East Texas Baptist) leading the way with 16 points. He also had six rebounds, three steals and a block. Pojah scored the first 10 points of the second half for USC Aiken.

Nelson and Seilern both ended the Pacer win with 11 points each. Seilern was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Nelson was 3-for-3 from the charity stripe.

Elizabeth City State was led by Blake Price in its loss. He finished the game with a game-high 21 points to go along with six caroms. He was 8-for-10 from the floor. 

In the first game of the day at the 2011 Southeastern Tool-Don Cheeks-Dr. John Riley USC Aiken Pre-Holiday Classic, Lenoir-Rhyne bested Virginia Union, 73-60.

The second day of the 2011 Southeastern Tool-Don Cheeks-Dr. John Riley USC Aiken Pre-Holiday Classic will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17 with Elizabeth City State and Lenoir-Rhyne playing against one another. USC Aiken will close the event for the second straight year with a game against Virginia Union at approximately 3 p.m.

For more information on the 2011 Southeastern Tool-Don Cheeks-Dr. John Riley USC Aiken Pre-Holiday Classic, please visit the official tournament website at: http://www.pacersports.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/Releases/preholidayclassic