AIKEN, S.C. – In one of the greatest games ever played at the Convocation Center, the regionally second-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team garnered a thrilling 105-98 double overtime Peach Belt Conference victory over Francis Marion at the Convocation Center. 

The double overtime win by the Pacers coupled with an Augusta State loss to Lander obtained the No. 1 seed in the Peach Belt Conference East Division for the Pacers.

The victory also secured a perfect campaign at home during the regular season for USC Aiken (19-6, 13-4 PBC). The Pacers concluded the 2011-12 regular season 14-0 inside the friendly confines of the Convocation Center.

USC Aiken has now finished undefeated at home during the regular season in two of the last five seasons. 

USC Aiken's victory came in a game that featured 13 lead changes. The game was tied 19 times.

Down by 10 points at 69-59 with just 2:42 remaining in regulation, USC Aiken outscored Francis Marion (16-12, 9-9 PBC) 17-7 the rest of regulation to send the game into overtime.

The two teams would each score 10 points in the first overtime to force another extra period.

In the second overtime period, the prevailing Pacers outscored Francis Marion, 19-12, to acquire the seven-point victory.

Pacer senior Sterling Council made it a Senior Day to remember for himself in the game by finishing with a career-high 33 points. Council was 11-for-20 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line in the game. 

Council (Camden, S.C./Camden HS) is the first Pacer to score over 30 since Byron Faison posted 30 in a Pacer game with Clayton State on Jan. 16, 2010.

Re'mon Nelson (Columbus, Ohio/Canal Winchester HS) added 21 points for USC Aiken in the game. His 20 points combined with Council's 33 marked the first time that two Pacers had scored over 20 in a contest since Nelson and Faison both scored over 20 in a Pacer win over King on Feb. 26, 2011. 

Chase Holmes (Chesnee, S.C./Presbyterian) also made it a Senior Day to remember, as he ended his night with 19 points and 12 rebounds. The 19 points accumulated by Holmes in the game gives him over 1,000 points for his career.

Rick Alderman (Roanoke, Va./Concord) was the final Pacer to score in double figures, ending his evening with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting.

Joel Gierbolini (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Long Island) did not accrue double figure points, but he did bring down 14 rebounds to go along with eight points and four blocks.

Liki Turner led five Francis Marion players in double figures with 20 points.

USC Aiken ended its win shooting 46.7 percent (35-for-75) overall as a team. Francis Marion shot 42.6 percent (29-for-68) as a team.

Both teams hit upon 75 percent of their free throw attempts.

USC Aiken will next go for the outright Peach Belt Conference regular season championship in a 3:30 p.m. road game against Flagler in St. Augustine, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 25.