AIKEN, S.C. – Rookie Caleb Stewart poured in a career-high 21 points as the University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team registered an 83-68 victory over Elizabeth City State in the second game of the Tip-Off Classic.

The Pacers are now 3-1 on the season.

Stewart led everyone with his 21 points in just 23 minutes of work. He canned eight-of-11 shots from the floor, including a four-of-six effort from downtown. Keith Belfield netted 18 points to go along with five rebounds while André Anthony totaled 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Dominic Early posted 15 points while Rashad Lewis distributed six assists in the victory.

USC Aiken connected on 26-of-56 shots (46.4 percent) while holding the Vikings to 24-of-70 (34.3 percent) from the field. Head coach Vince Alexander's team excelled on the break, registering 25 fast-break points while limiting the visitors to just four. The Pacers forced 12 turnovers, which turned into 13 points.

Although USC Aiken trailed 25-20 with 3:00 to go in the opening stanza, Alexander's team embarked on a 13-3 run to end the stanza. During the spurt, Stewart netted a three-pointer and Early accounted for four straight points. Anthony added a pair of free throws and Gavin Stephenson converted a lay-up off a pass from Anthony.

Alexander's team opened the second half by scoring 13 of the first 18 points, essentially putting the game away.

During the spurt, Belfield converted an old-fashioned three-point play before following it up with another lay-up. Anthony buried a three-point shot and Early hit a pair of charity tosses.

USC Aiken extended its margin to 19 when Albert Miller III nailed a shot from downtown after Anthony swung it to him. Alexander's squad pushed the margin to 20 at 71-51 when Lewis hit a free throw with 6:31 to play. The largest lead of the game came just seconds later when Lewis pushed the ball down the court and lobbed it to Early, who grabbed the ball with one hand in the hair and connected on a lay-up.

Although Elizabeth City State trimmed the margin to just 13 with 4:20 to go, USC Aiken extended the margin back to 19 just 61 seconds later when Tyreece Brice hit a free throw.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., when they host Winston-Salem State.