COLUMBUS, Ga. – A strong defensive effort guided the Peach Belt Conference East Division top-seeded University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team to a 48-40 victory over Peach Belt Conference West Division No. 4 Clayton State in quarterfinal action at the 2012 Peach Belt Conference Basketball Tournament at the Frank G. Lumpkin Center on the campus of Columbus State.

USC Aiken advances to the semifinals of the league tournament where they will face off against PBC West No. 2 Columbus State at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 3.

In a game that featured 14 lead changes and 11 ties, the Pacer defense limited Clayton State (16-11) to just 32.6 percent (15-for-46) shooting as a team. It was the worst shooting percentage as a team that an opponent has had against the Pacers all season.

USC Aiken (21-6) also held one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the conference in Clayton State to a 0-for-9 performance from beyond the arc.

The 40 points allowed by the Pacers in the game marked the second time this season that USC Aiken has allowed less than 50 points in a contest in the 2011-12 season. They are 2-0 in the games.

USC Aiken as a team shot a season-low 26.1 percent (12-for-46).

The Pacers did not shoot well (63.9 percent) from the free throw line in the game, but the 23 free throws made in the game by the Pacers in the end helped lead USC Aiken to its eight-point win.

Maurice Hubbard (Centreville,Va./Ball State) was the only Pacer to finish in double figures in the contest, ending his evening with 11 points and nine rebounds. He scored all 11 of his points in the first stanza. Three of his four field goals in the game came on explosive dunks, including an alley-oop from Re'mon Nelson (Columbus, Ohio/Canal Winchester HS) in the final minute of the first half.

Anthony Salter led Clayton State in its loss to the Pacers with 18 points and six rebounds.

The score was tied at 12-all with 4:08 left in the first half.

From there, USC Aiken would close the half on a 10-5 run to own a 22-17 lead at intermission.

Clayton State would open the second half on a 5-0 run to tie things at 22-all with 17:22 remaining in the game.

The two teams would play close the rest of the game with USC Aiken clinging to a two-point lead with 2:05 left in the contest.

From there, clutch free throw shooting would guide the Pacers to the eight-point win.

Postgame Press Conference - Click Link to Access