AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken fell behind by 19 points in the first half, but rallied to pull within one before falling to GRU Augusta 77-66 Saturday evening.

The Pacers drop to 11-14 on the season and 6-10 against PBC competition. The Jaguars improve to 20-5 overall and 12-4 in league play.

Leading the way for head coach Vince Alexander's team was junior André Anthony, who poured in a game-high 24 points on nine-of-15 shooting from the floor. He accounted for five three-point baskets in addition to dishing out a team-high three assists. 

Rashad Lewis hit four three-point buckets en route to a 15-point performance while Dominic Early added 13 markers to go along with a team-best nine rebounds. Arbry Butler battled foul trouble, but still managed to block four shots and snag seven rebounds.

For the game, USC Aiken hit 21-of-55 from the floor (38.2 percent), including a nine-of-24 effort from downtown (37.5 percent). The Pacers out-rebounded the Jaguars 38-33, but committed 11 turnovers to just four by the visitors. GRU Augusta had 16 points off the miscues while USC Aiken tallied just one point. 

The Pacers found themselves trailing 9-0 before Anthony hit a three-pointer at the 15:01 mark. The deficit hovers around 10 points until the Jaguars went on a 9-3 run for a 42-23 advantage with 3:33 to play in the first half. However, the home squad managed to trim the deficit to 14 at the break as it closed the final 2:17 on a 9-4 run. Anthony made two three-point baskets and Lewis hit one for all of the Pacers' points.

Trailing by 17 with 16:50 to play at 51-34, Alexander's team embarked on a 13-6 spurt. During the run, Anthony hit a pair of three-pointers while Hendrix Emu hit a lay-up and a free throw. Early connected on a score while Anthony found Butler for an easy two on a lob.

USC Aiken continued to whittle the deficit and made it a six-point game when Caleb Stewart drove past the defense for two. Butler stuffed a Keshun Sherrill attempt and Anthony grabbed the board. He went coast-to-coast for the dunk with 6:25 to play, making it a 64-61 contest.

Trailing 65-62, Emu hit a jumper, pulling the home team within one at 65-64 with 4:30 to play. However, the visitors were able to close out the game on a 12-2 run as USC Aiken was unable to hit another basket from the floor.  

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they host North Georgia at 7:30 p.m.