AMERICUS, Ga. – The No. 7 University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team placed six student-athletes in double figures in the 96-89 road win at Georgia Southwestern.

The Pacers are now 22-2 on the year and 16-2 in league play. The Hurricanes are 3-20 overall and 1-16 in the PBC.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by Xzavier Barmore's team-best 25 points. Doniel Dean added 18 points while Ty'lik Evans chipped in 15 markers. Robert Hill totaled 14 points and eight rebounds and Faison Brock notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

Shaquan Jules was perfect off the bench, hitting all five shots he took en route to 10 points. He also snagged four rebounds.

USC Aiken jumped out to a 13-3 lead behind a pair of three-point shots, an old-fashioned three-point play, a dunk and a jumper. Despite the Hurricanes slicing the lead, the Pacers maintained an eight-point edge at 25-17 when Jules connected on a lay-up with 10:48 to go in the half. However, Georgia Southwestern would take a 33-32 lead with 4:35 to play. 

Vanderslice's team regained the advantage at 36-35 on a pair of free throws from Brock. Trailing 42-38 with the half nearing an end, Brock hit a floater to make it a 42-40 contest entering the final 20 minutes of work. 

A back-and-forth affair took place in the second half. USC Aiken took a 45-44 lead on a three-ball from Barmore only to see the visitors tie the contest at 47-47. The Hurricanes took a 56-55 lead, but Barmore and Brock hit back-to-back shots for a three-point edge. 

Tied at 59-59, Jules slammed home a pass from Barmore. Evans converted an old-fashioned three-point play and Dean sliced through the defense for a lay-up.  Another pass from Barmore to Jules resulted in a 68-59 lead for the Pacers with 11:40 to play.

Georgia Southwestern tied the game at 78-78 with 5:27 to go but Dean regained the advantage for USC Aiken with a lay-up. Barmore canned two free throws only to see the Hurricanes pull within two. 

The home squad made it 89-85 with 2:16 to play, but Barmore hit a lay-up and then made a three-point play for a 94-85 advantage with 75 seconds remaining. Dean's lay-up pushed the margin to double figures as USC Aiken registered the seven-point victory.   

For the game, USC Aiken drilled 41-of-69 from the floor (59.4 percent) and out-rebounded the home school 40-20. The 41 made field goals are the fifth most in the program's Division II history. 

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