AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team lost a 79-74 contest to UNC Pembroke Wednesday evening.

The Pacers are now 12-7 on the year and 8-1 in league play.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by Faison Brock's game-best 17 points. He added nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. Shaquan Jules posted 16 points while Xzavier Barmore and Damontez Oliver tallied 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Gus Rowland contributed nine points and four rebounds. Robert Hill swatted three shots.

Trailing 7-4, Rowland found Jules for a lay-up. On the ensuing possession, Rowland buried a jumper. Brock's steal and pass ahead to Oliver gave the team a 10-7 edge. Leading 25-24, Brock hit a pair of free throws. After a block by Hill, Kyle Tackeberry went coast-to-coast for a lay-up. Barmore's lay-up pushed the margin to seven, 31-24. Moments later, Barmore hit another floater for a 33-24 lead with 4:41 to play in the half. However, the Braves closed the gap to one at the break, 35-34.

Trailing 51-47, Brock found Barmore for a three-ball on the break. A free throw by Jules knotted the score at 51-51. Brock hit two charity tosses before Jules made a jumper. Jules scored the next three points for a 58-51 advantage, but the visitors tied the game at 60-60 with 8:54 to play.

Down by four, 64-60, Barmore hit a foul shot and Jules netted the next four points for a 65-64 lead with 5:39 to go. However, the Braves scored the next six points and Vanderslice's team could get no closer than four the rest of the way.

For the game, USC Aiken hit 21-of-55 from the floor (38.2 percent). The squad hit 28-of-35 from the charity stripe (80.0 percent).

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they play at Lander at 1:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.