FLORENCE, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team built a 21-point halftime lead en route to an 80-68 road win at Francis Marion.

The Pacers are now 13-14 on the season and improve to 8-10 in league action. The Patriots fall to 13-14 overall and 5-13 against conference competition. 

Dominic Early registered a game-high 23 points to lead head coach Vince Alexander's team. He also added seven rebounds in the contest. André Anthony poured in 16 points and six rebounds while Jordan Foster hit for 14 points. Hendrix Emu came off the bench to tally 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Rashad Lewis accounted for just two points, but dished out a career-high nine assists. Tyreece Brice also added five assists in the victory.

For the game, USC Aiken nailed 30-of-57 shots from the floor (52.6 percent), including a 10-of-25 effort from downtown (40 percent). Alexander's team out-rebounded the home squad 40-29 and dished out 21 assists.

Foster got things going with a three-point bucket off a pass from Lewis just 32 seconds into the game. A dunk by Arbry Butler increased the margin to 5-0 at the 18:34 mark. Anthony's five-point run by himself pushed the score to 12-3 just 5:26 into the game. Emu and Brice each hit shots in the paint for a 16-3 advantage.

Alexander's team continued applying pressure as Anthony hit back-to-back three-pointers before Early canned a pair of free throws for a 24-6 lead at the 11:50 mark. On a three-point basket by Albert Miller III, USC Aiken extended its lead to 37-16 and cruised into the intermission with a 44-23 lead.

Although the Pacers lead by 20 at the 16-minute mark, the Patriots slowly cut into the lead. FMU pulled within six with 6:38 to play, but Early's lay-up pushed the margin back to eight, 69-61. A few minutes later, Early nailed a three-pointer and canned a jumper for a 13-point edge.

USC Aiken would not allow the home team to get any closer and Early emphatically ended the game with the final points coming on a dunk off a pass by Anthony.  

With the win, Alexander's team secured a spot in the upcoming Peach Belt Conference Tournament. The squad will travel to Montevallo for a first-round game on Saturday, Feb. 28. 

The Pacers conclude regular-season action Wednesday at GRU Augusta. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.