PEMBROKE, N.C. – Doniel Dean hit the game-winning shot with 11 seconds to play as the No. 6 University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team knocked off No. 21 UNC Pembroke 90-88 Wednesday evening.

The Pacers are now 16-1 overall and 10-1 in league play. The Braves are 13-3 overall and 8-2 against conference competition.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by Dean's game-high 29 points. He hit nine-of-16 from the floor and eight-of-nine from the charity stripe. Xzavier Barmore tallied 22 points and dished out a game-best seven assists. Robert Hill totaled 12 points and three blocks while Faison Brock accounted for 11 points and seven rebounds. Ty'lik Evans garnered eight points and four steals.

Shaquan Jules and Myles Washington each contributed four points in the win.

Trailing 11-7 in the early going, Barmore hit a pair of charity tosses. After a steal by Evans, Brock found Dean for a lay-up, knotting the score at 11-11. He was fouled and converted the old-fashioned three-point play. Dean converted another inside shot on the ensuing possession, ending the Pacers' 7-0 run for a 14-11 advantage with 14:48 to play in the half.

Back-to-back baskets from Hill made it 29-24 with 8:13 to go. USC Aiken's largest lead of the frame came moments later when Dean sliced through the defense for a lay-up, giving the visitors a 33-27 margin. Evans found Hill for a dunk with 59 seconds to go, making it 43-39 in favor of the Pacers. USC Aiken maintained a 43-41 advantage at the break.  

It was a back-and-forth affair throughout the entire second half. The lead changed hands six times in the first five minutes, but Barmore hit Evans for a three-point bucket to make it 56-55. On the next possession, Evans snagged a rebound and put it up and in for a 58-55 lead. A pair of free throws by Dean at the 12:06 mark extended the margin to five at 64-59. However, the Braves battled back to regain the advantage at 78-77 with 4:14 to go.

Brock found Dean for a three-point shot to give the visitors an 80-78 lead 17 seconds later. After a steal by Barmore, Dean found Brock for a lay-up. Hill's lay-up with 1:15 to play pushed the margin to three at 88-85, but UNC Pembroke hit three consecutive foul shots to knot the score at 88-88 with 38 seconds to play.

Spencer Levi missed the second free throw attempt and Dean snagged the board. With 11 seconds to go, Dean drained a jumper for the 90-88 lead. The Braves worked the ball into the front court and called a time-out with two seconds remaining. UNC Pembroke shot a three-pointer, but Barmore corralled the rebound to secure the victory.

For the game, USC Aiken hit 33-of-68 from the floor (48.5 percent), including six-of-22 from downtown (27.3 percent). The Pacers accounted for 23 points off turnovers while the Braves had 10. Vanderslice's team controlled the paint 48-40 and maintained a 20-11 edge in fast break points.

The victory snapped UNC Pembroke's 17-game home winning streak.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they host Lander at 3:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.