AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team shot 65 percent in the second half en route to a 90-78 victory over Flagler Wednesday evening.
 
The Pacers are now 18-7 overall and 12-6 in conference play. The Saints drop to 9-15 on the year and 3-14 against league teams.

Mark Matthews led the way with a game-high 21 points in 32 minutes of action. Jalin Barnes returned to the court to net 20 markers while Henry Bolton III accounted for 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Paris Ballinger hit for 11 points while Robert Hill narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. He also swatted away six shots.

Christian Nobles scored eight points and distributed a team-high six assists in the victory.

After falling behind by 11 points at the 9:08 mark, head coach Mark Vanderslice's team responded, cutting the lead to six on a jumper by Barnes with 7:47 to play in the first half. Bolton III converted a lay-up on the break two minutes later, pulling the Pacers within one at 29-28.

At the 4:14 mark, Bolton III struck again with another lay-up, giving the team a one-point lead. Hill found Matthews for an inside shot and then Nobles hit Matthews for another bucket for a 34-30 lead.

The Pacers saw their lead trimmed to four just 1:01 into the second half, but Bolton III struck for another jumper, extending the lead to six, 42-36. Matthews lined up a shot from downtown and promptly found the bottom of the net for a 47-36 advantage at the 16:56 mark.

The Saints continued to battle and the visitors eventually tied the score at 64-64 with 7:48 to play.

Holding a 66-65 lead, Hill tipped in a shot. A three-ball from Barnes pushed the margin to five, 71-66. Matthews hit a three-ball and Hill made a lay-up and pushed what was a five-point lead into a 10-point margin with 1:15 to go in the game. The Pacers were not challenged the rest of the way in the win.

For the game, USC Aiken buried 34-of-64 from the floor (53.1 percent), including 11-of-26 from downtown (42.3 percent). The squad was solid at the line, hitting 11-of-14 (78.6 percent).

Vanderslice's team pulled down 41 rebounds and dished out 18 assists in the contest.
 
The Pacers return to action Wednesday, Feb. 22, when they host Augusta in the regular-season finale. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.