AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team lost a 74-65 decision to No. 23 UNC Pembroke Wednesday evening.

The Pacers are now 10-12 on the year, including a 5-8 mark against league foes. The Braves improve to 19-3 overall and 10-3 against conference competition.

Dominic Early led the way for head coach Vince Alexander's team with a 21-point, 12-rebound performance. He also swatted away a game-high four shots. Rookie Caleb Stewart connected for 17 points and seven rebounds while Arbry Butler contributed 11 points and four boards. David Belfield contributed seven markers and five rebounds.

For the game, USC Aiken canned 24-of-59 from the floor (40.7 percent), but managed to hit just four-of-13 from downtown (30.8 percent) and 13-of-20 from the charity stripe (65 percent).  

The Pacers committed 21 turnovers to just 14 by the Braves. UNC Pembroke converted the miscues into 26 points while holding USC Aiken to just nine.

Alexander's team took a 4-0 lead on a jumper by Butler. Trailing 5-4, Stewart canned the first of his three-point shots for a two-point edge. Tied at 7-7, Stewart connected on an old-fashioned three-point play for a 10-7 lead. It sparked a 7-0 run for the home squad as Butler made back-to-back lay-ups.

Leading 14-11, Stewart hit a jumper and Early connected on a pair of free throws. André Anthony's bucket pushed the margin to nine at 20-11. After the Braves made it 22-15, Gavin Stephenson took a pass from Rashad Lewis for a lay-up. Early made a pair of free throws for the Pacers' largest lead of the contest, 26-15.

UNC Pembroke recorded a 14-2 run, taking a 29-28 lead. However, Early stepped behind the three-point line and buried the shot for the 31-29 advantage. With 1:04 to play in the opening half, Early's free throws pushed the score to 33-32 heading into the second period.

The Braves took a 36-35 lead on a jumper at the 18:36 mark and never relinquished it. Trailing by four, Lewis took a pass from Early and drained one from downtown, making it 39-38. However, UNC Pembroke would go on a 17-3 run for a 56-41 lead.

Alexander's team would not give up. The Pacers trimmed the deficit to 10 on a few occasions. At the 3:52 mark, Early's lay-up pulled the team within eight at 66-58, but the visitors managed to withstand several attempts by USC Aiken to get the score any closer.  

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they travel to Lander. The game is slated to start at 3:30 p.m.