MORROW, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team put on a defensive clinic in the second half en route to a 68-55 victory at Clayton State Wednesday evening.

The Pacers improve to 11-13 overall, including a 6-9 mark against conference competition. The Lakers fall to 14-9 overall and are now 7-8 against league foes.

Rookie Rashad Lewis had arguably the best game of his young career. He poured in 17 points. He finished the contest three-of-four from the floor and connected on all 10- of his charity attempts. For good measure, he led everyone with four steals.

Dominic Early totaled 17 points while Arbry Butler totaled 11 points to go along with six rebounds. André Anthony contributed seven points while Tyreece Brice chipped in five.

For the game, head coach Vince Alexander's team hit 23-of-51 shots from the field (45.1 percent). The squad limited the opposition to a four-of-18 effort from behind the three-point stripe (22.2 percent). The Pacers converted 18-of-25 shots from the foul line (72 percent) and out-rebounded the Lakers 31-29. USC Aiken also distributed 13 assists compared to eight by the home team.

A back-and-forth affair in the early going, Alexander's squad found itself trailing 37-22 with 4:10 to go in the opening half. However, the Pacers continued to fight, embarking on a huge run heading into intermission.

Lewis got things going with a pair of free throws. He added a three-pointer with 1:53 to go prior to slicing past defenders for a lay-up, making it 37-29. After a time-out, Butler threw down a dunk off a pass from Grant Harris. Lewis made two charity tosses with five seconds remaining, but a bucket by the Lakers made it a 39-33 game at the break.

Trailing 44-39 in the final period, Butler hit a lay-up, making it a three-point game. Caleb Stewart drained a deep three-point basket for a 46-45 advantage. Tied at 48, Early hammered home a dunk for a two-point edge.

Gavin Stephenson converted an old-fashioned three-point play for a 53-49 advantage with 8:01 to go. 

Leading by five, 60-55, with 3:39 to go, Early hit a jumper and Anthony made both free throws for a 64-55 margin. Butler converted a three-point play before Early hit a free throw to close out the scoring.  

Over the final 20 minutes of action, USC Aiken held Clayton State to a five-of-20 effort from the floor, including a zero-for-eight effort from downtown.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they host GRU Augusta in a 7:30 p.m., contest.