AIKEN, S.C. – The nationally 19^th-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team rallied from a five-point deficit with four minutes remaining to down Peach Belt Conference opponent North Georgia, 77-71, on Saturday evening at the Convocation Center.

USC Aiken (13-3, 7-1 PBC) has now won five of its last six outings. The Pacers are a perfect 10-0 at the Convocation Center currently.

North Georgia (7-11, 2-5 PBC) held a 64-59 lead with 4:15 to go in the contest. The Pacers behind strong 3-point shooting and stout free throw shooting would outscore North Georgia 18-7 over the final minutes en route to the six-point win.

Re'mon Nelson (Columbus, Ohio/Canal Winchester), who hit two 3-pointers in the final minutes, finished with a game-high 22 points to lead USC Aiken. Nelson was 4-for-7 from beyond the arc in the game. He was 6-for-8 from the free throw line.

Nelson also had three assists, two steals and a block.

Ronald Zimmerman (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley) was 7-for-8 from the free throw line for USC Aiken. He ended the win over North Georgia with 12 points.

The final Pacer in double figures was Jesse Seilern (Innsbruck, Austria/Kapfenberg), who was 6-for-7 from the free throw line. He ended the game with 10 points. Seilern also had five rebounds, two steals, two assists and a block.

As a team, USC Aiken ended Saturday's win over North Georgia shooting 76.3 percent (29-for-38) from the free throw line.

The Pacers hit upon 42.9 percent (21-for-49) of their field goal attempts in the game.

North Georgia shot 45.1 percent (23-for-51) as a team in its loss to USC Aiken on Saturday evening.

Clarence Tillman led North Georgia in its loss with 21 points, five steals, three assists and three rebounds.

He was one of four in double figures for the Saints. 

USC Aiken has just one day off before next returning to the hardwood of the Convocation Center for a Peach Belt Conference showdown with Georgia Southwestern at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23.