AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team lost an 81-72 contest to Francis Marion Saturday evening in a Peach Belt Conference contest.

The Pacers are now 6-19 on the season, including a 4-14 mark against conference competition. The Patriots are 16-11 overall and 8-10 against league foes.

Leading the way for head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was Arbry Butler, who accounted for 22 points and 13 rebounds. Teammate Tavares Sledge also posted a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Keith Belfield chipped in 15 markers in the loss.

USC Aiken jumped out to a 10-5 lead after a 7-0 spurt. Trailing 5-3, Hendrix Emu made a lay-up. Keith Belfield followed him up with a deep three-point shot off a pass from Jevon Patton. Sledge's lay-up off the feed from Belfield made it a 10-5 contest at the 15:53 mark.

The Patriots, however, would counter with a 13-0 spurt that spanned just over three minutes of game time, giving the team an 18-10 advantage.

USC Aiken fought from behind the rest of the way in the opening period, but was still within striking distance at the break, trailing 42-28.

Down by 16 in the opening minute of the second half, the Pacers started trimming the deficit. With 13:02 to play, Butler sliced through the lane for a lay-up, making it a 58-49 game.

After a free throw by Emu and a three-pointer by Belfield, the Pacers trailed by five, 58-53.

FMU pushed the margin back to 10 points at the 9:03 mark, but Vanderslice's team countered once again.

Kyle Buffkin hit a free throw and Sledge nailed a jumper, making it a 66-59 game. USC Aiken pulled within four on a pair of Butler free throws at the 4:49 mark, but the visitors were able to maintain the advantage of at least three points the rest of the way.

For the game, USC Aiken shot 24-of-55 from the floor (43.6 percent), including a seven-of-22 clip from downtown (31.8 percent). The squad connected on 17-of-26 shots from the charity stripe (65.4 percent).

The Pacers close out the season Wednesday when they host Augusta at 7:30 p.m. Live stats, video and audio will be available at PacerSports.com.