MORROW, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team overcame a 14-point first-half deficit en route to a 91-86 win at Clayton State Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 8-4 overall and 5-3 in league play. The Lakers stand at 8-3 on the year and 6-2 against conference foes.

USC Aiken placed six student-athletes in double figures. The squad was led by Faison Brock's 19 points and nine rebounds. Doniel Dean added 15 points while Markus Terry contributed 14 markers. Paris Ballinger tallied 12 points while Austin Grimes and Robert Hill contributed 11 and 10, respectively.

Hill added eight boards while Ballinger dished out a team-high four assists. Brock and Terry tied for team-high accolades with two steals apiece.  

In the first half, Clayton State embarked on an 8-0 run for a 21-11 edge and would end up taking a 47-33 lead. However, head coach Mark Vanderslice's team mounted a comeback before the break. Grimes took a pass from Bolton III for a lay-up. Hill, Brock and Ballinger would each hit short shots for a 47-41 contest to finish off the first half.

USC Aiken trimmed the deficit to one early in the second period, but the Lakers pushed the advantage back to double figures. Trailing 68-57, Grimes hit a pair of free throws with 11:21 to play. After a rebound by Brock on the next possession, Grimes hit a jumper, making it a seven-point contest. A lay-up from Terry moments later pulled the visitors within four at 71-67.  

Down 75-71, Doniel Dean made one-of-two from the charity stripe. Then, Brock canned a three-ball with 6:55 to play, knotting the score. A steal by Terry and a lay-up from Dean gave USC Aiken a two-point edge.

The Pacers would maintain a lead until 1:04 to play. Down by one, Dean sliced through the defense and made a lay-up with 37 seconds to play, giving the visitors an 87-86 lead. USC Aiken forced the Lakers into a missed shot and Hill grabbed the rebound. Ballinger was fouled and calmly made both free throws with 25 ticks on the clock. Another strong defensive possession ended in a rebound by Brock, who was fouled. He made both charity tosses with four seconds to play, giving Vanderslice's team the win.

For the game, USC Aiken hit 34-of-71 from the field (47.9 percent), including six-of-15 from downtown (40 percent). The squad was nearly automatic from the foul line, hitting 17-of-20 (85 percent).

The Pacers held a 36-33 edge in rebounds, including a 12-6 margin on the offensive glass. USC Aiken maintained a 25-10 advantage off the bench and forced 17 turnovers, converting the miscues into 18 points. The visitors also held a 13-4 edge in second-chance points.

The Pacers return to action Monday when they travel to Georgia College for a 3:30 p.m., start. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.