COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team lost an 84-66 contest at Columbus State in the PBC Quarterfinal Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 18-9 on the season while the Cougars improve to 19-8.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by Jalin Barnes' 20 points. Christian Nobles accounted for 17 markers to go along with a team-best eight rebounds. Henry Bolton III notched 14 points before fouling out.

Faison Brock and Robert Hill each pulled down eight rebounds in the game.

USC Aiken struggled out of the gate as the home team jumped out to a 10-0 lead just 3:22 into the game. The Pacers tried to cut into the margin the rest of the half, but the Cougars managed to maintain a near double-digit lead the rest of the period.

Vanderslice's squad netted the first five points of the second half to make it a 41-34 game. Bolton III took a pass from Barnes for a basket before Nobles hit a step-back three-pointer with 16:17 to play.

However, that marked the closest the team would get the rest of the way despite a valiant effort.

For the contest, USC Aiken was held to 23-of-76 shooting from the floor (30.3 percent), including 11-of-40 from downtown (27.5 percent). The squad connected on nine-of-12 from the free throw line (75 percent).