AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 4 University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team lost a 92-89 decision to Francis Marion Wednesday evening.

The Pacers are now 19-2 overall and 13-2 in the league. The Patriots are 15-4 on the year and 11-3 against league foes.

Doniel Dean led the way with 21 points. Robert Hill totaled 19 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Xzavier Barmore and Faison Brock accounted for 15 points each while Ty'lik Evans chipped in 11 markers.

Barmore dished out eight assists. Evans grabbed seven boards while Dean accounted for six.

Hill's dunk off a pass from Barmore gave USC Aiken a 17-10 lead with 15:46 to play, but the visitors went on a 10-3 run to knot the game at 20-20. The Patriots led 47-33 with 3:26 to go. The Pacers pulled within five when Hill threw down a thunderous dunk with 49 ticks to go, but the visitors held a 51-44 lead at the break.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team trailed 63-56 but the squad rallied to take a 66-65 lead after five-straight points by Brock, including a steal and dunk at the 12:07 mark. However, the visitors took an eight-point lead moments later.

USC Aiken pulled within one after a pair of charity tosses by Brock with 1:57 to go. The Patriots made it a three-point game with 33 seconds to play at 90-87. Dean made a pair of free throws to pull the home squad within one at 90-89 with 14 seconds to go.

Forced to foul with seven seconds to go, FMU hit a pair of free throws to go up by three at 92-89.

USC Aiken missed a three-point shot with two seconds to go in the three-point loss.  

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