AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team registered a 74-72 victory over Francis Marion Saturday night on Homecoming.

The Pacers are now 10-9 on the season, including a 5-5 mark against conference competition.

Four student-athletes scored in double figures for head coach Vince Alexander's team. Leading the way was Dominic Early, who poured in a team-high 19 points to go along with a game-best nine rebounds. André Anthony accounted for 12 points while Arbry Butler and Hendrix Emu each contributed 11 markers.

Butler tallied eight rebounds and three blocks while Emu notched six boards and two blocks.

For the game, USC Aiken held a 44-35 advantage on the glass in addition to dishing out six more assists than the visitors. The Pacers managed to post 10 points off miscues while holding the Patriots to nine. Alexander's squad maintained a 37-33 lead in bench points.

USC Aiken jumped out to a 9-3 advantage at the 14:17 mark. During the opening minutes, Butler and Emu hit back-to-back lay-ups for a 4-0 edge. Anthony's jumper pushed the score to 6-3. Butler added a free throw before Anthony hit another basket for the six-point margin.

After the Patriots tied it at 9-9, the Pacers embarked on an 11-2 spurt. Anthony got things going with a deep three-point shot before Caleb Stewart found Butler for a lay-up. A basket by the visitors made it a three-point game. Jordan Foster and Anthony connected on deep shots for a 20-11 edge with just 7:44 to play in the half.

FMU pulled within three with 2:01 to go before Albert Miller III netted a three-point basket off a pass from Grant Harris. Early netted the last four points of the half for Alexander's team as the squad took a 33-27 lead heading into halftime.

Although USC Aiken took a 39-31 lead on a Tyreece Brice free throw, the visitors pulled within one with a basket at the 13:05 mark. FMU eventually took a three-point lead with 10:05 to go, but Alexander's squad countered quickly, tying it on a Rashad Lewis three-point basket from the wing.

Neither team was able to take more than a four-point lead the rest of the way – and that came when Emu converted an old-fashioned three-point play, making it 62-58.

With the score tied at 69, Early made a free throw for a 70-69 lead. Stewart made a pair of charity tosses for a three-point margin with 1:01 to play. However, the Patriots hit a three-pointer with 48 ticks left.

USC Aiken worked the ball around before Early was fouled with 13 seconds to play. He made both free throws and the visitors missed two shots in the final two seconds before Early's rebound secured the victory.

At halftime, Ryan Rafanan was named Homecoming King while Micaiah Leslie was named Homecoming Queen.

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they play at Armstrong State. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.