AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team overcame a 12-point second-half deficit en route to an 83-81 victory over UNC Pembroke Saturday night for Homecoming.

The Pacers improve to 13-4 overall, including 7-3 in league play. The Braves are now 14-5 overall and 7-3 against conference foes.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice had five players in double figures. Henry Bolton III paced the squad with 17 points. Jalin Barnes and Mark Matthews accounted for 15 apiece. Christian Nobles accounted for 14 points and a game-best four assists while Austin Grimes continued his stellar play with 13 points in 15 minutes of work.

Matthews narrowly missed out on a double-double as he snagged a game-high nine rebounds.

The Pacers started out slow, trailing 7-0 before Matthews hit a three-point shot at the 16:30 mark off a pass from Paris Ballinger. Barnes found Matthews moments later as his lay-up pulled the home team within two at 9-7.

UNC Pembroke extended the score to 20-13 before Nobles hit a free throw, starting a 5-0 run. Robert Hill took a pass from Faison Brock for a lay-up before Grimes' jumper made it a 20-18 contest. The Pacers kept it close to rest of the half, but still trailed 39-35 at intermission.

The Braves quickly made it a 12-point game, 54-42, with 15:07 to play in the game. Grimes pulled up on a fast break and connected form downtown off a pass from Nobles. However, UNC Pembroke was able to keep its lead close to double figures until the 11-minute mark.

Matthews twisted his way in the lane and made a jumper, slicing the deficit to nine at 66-57. Moments later, he hit another shot in the lane. A three-pointer by Bolton III pulled Vanderslice's squad within three, 67-64. With 6:10 to play, Bolton III found Grimes for a lay-up, tying the game at 69. After a Matthews rebound, Bolton III hit Grimes for a jumper.

USC Aiken held a 77-76 lead before Nobles faked out his defender and entered the lane. He spun around and hit Matthews in the corner with a pass. Matthews did not hesitate and calmly hit nothing but net on a three-pointer and a four-point margin with 1:22 to play.

After the Braves pulled within two, Nobles connected on a foul shot. However, UNC Pembroke tied the game with 32 seconds to play on a three-pointer.

Vanderslice called a time-out and he placed the ball in the hands of Barnes. He dribbled some time off the clock before getting into the lane for a runner. The high shot hit the backboard before dropping in for the game-winner.

The Braves had a last-second chance, but missed a half-court heave as time expired.

For the game, USC Aiken hit 29-of-58 from the floor (50 percent), including eight-of-19 from downtown (42.1 percent). The squad buried 17-of-27 from the charity stripe.

USC Aiken held a 39-35 edge in rebounds. Vanderslice's squad maintained a 13-8 margin in fast break points and a 22-7 lead in bench points.

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they host Lander at 7:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.