AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team upended Peach Belt Conference foe Lander by a score of 86-81 Wednesday evening.

The Pacers are now 8-8 overall and improve to 3-4 against conference competition. The Bearcats fall to 13-2 on the year and 5-2 against league foes.

Head coach Vince Alexander's team placed six student-athletes in double figures in the victory. Leading the way was André Anthony, who poured in 16 points. Dominic Early came off the bench and nearly tallied a double-double with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Caleb Stewart totaled 12 points and eight boards while Tyreece Brice netted 12 markers. Rashad Lewis accounted for 11 points while Hendrix Emu posted 10. Arbry Butler chipped in nine points to go along with a game-best six blocks.

For the game, the Pacers connected on 30-of-57 shots from the floor (52.6 percent), including a solid nine-of-19 from downtown (47.4 percent). The squad also got to the foul line 24 times, hitting 17 (70.8 percent).

USC Aiken maintained a 22-4 advantage in fast break points, with several coming in the waning minutes as the Bearcats tried to press in order to trim the Pacers' lead. Alexander's squad registered 36 points off the bench and held an 18-point lead with 5:35 to play.

After falling behind 14-9, Albert Miller III drained a deep three-point shot off a pass from Early. Anthony's lay-up made it a two-point game. However, Lander managed to push its advantage to eight points with 8:45 to go in the first half.

Stewart hit a jumper and Anthony nailed a three-pointer, pulling the team within three at the 7:27 mark. Lewis hit a pair of charity tosses, but once again the Bearcats managed to hit a couple of shots for a 30-26 edge.

Trailing 32-28, the Pacers embarked on a 10-1 run over the final 4:36 of the half to take a 38-33 lead into intermission. During the spurt, Stewart buried a three-pointer, Emu added a lay-up, Brice hit a pair of free throws before draining a three-pointer for the final points of the half.

Leading 40-39, Alexander's squad went on an 8-0 run as Anthony hit a pair of three-pointers and Early threw down a thunderous dunk with 15:11 to play. Brice's lay-up extended the lead to 11, 52-41.

Ahead by 10 at 52-42, Butler accounted for a pair of dunks and Anthony hit a jumper while the defense limited the Bearcats to a field goal for a 58-44 lead.

Leading 58-48, Lewis netted five straight points and Early's three-point jumper from the wing gave the Pacers an 18-point cushion.

Lander slowly climbed back into the game, making it a three-point contest with just six seconds to go. However, Brice was fouled and calmly went to the line and buried two free throws, clinching the game for USC Aiken.  

The Pacers return to action Saturday at 7:30 p.m., when they host Georgia Southwestern.