Ron Zimmerman - Looking Back At The Season
Ron Zimmerman - Thoughts On The Team
Ron Zimmerman - Memorable Moments

A year after reaching the Elite Eight for the first time in the program's history during the 2012-13 campaign, the USC Aiken men's basketball team had high expectations for 2013-14.

The Pacers rolled to a 26-3 regular-season record and promptly won the PBC Tournament Championship, which was hosted by Columbus State.

After earning the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Southeast Regional, USC Aiken squared off against No. 8 Limestone (Conference Carolinas) and promptly crushed the Saints, 80-54. Midway through the first half it was a 10-point lead for the home squad and the Pacers never looked back. Three netted double figures while 10 scored in the blowout win.

The second-round match-up featured USC Aiken against GRU Augusta, which had handed the Pacers their lone home loss of the season. USC Aiken led 29-22 before DeVontae Wright went out with an injury and the Pacers held a 31-29 lead at the break (Wright had re-entered the game just before the end of the half).

The game was tied at 31-31, but USC Aiken would hold an advantage the rest of the way in the 78-58 blowout victory. Wright had 19 points and seven assists while Alvin Brown narrowly missed a triple-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks. Ronald Zimmerman (15 points) and Paul Larsen (11 points) each netted double figures in the win.

In the Sweet 16, USC Aiken held a 43-30 advantage at the break over Montevallo. The Falcons cut the deficit to 10 several times in the second half, but the Pacers prevailed by 11 points against a tough squad. Jesse Seilern led the home team with 17 points while Zimmerman (14 points), Larsen (14 points) and Wright (11 points) all had double figures.

The last win of the season came in the Elite Eight against Chico State. Forced to play the late game in the NCAA Quarterfinals, the score was tied at 33-33 before Santoine Butler hit a jumper and Zimmerman hit a three-ball, closing the half on a 5-0 spurt that spanned over three minutes on the clock.

The designated visitors pulled within four at several points in the second half, but Zimmerman's brilliant performance and outstanding foul shooting down the stretch sent USC Aiken to its first-ever Final Four. Zimmerman led everyone with 33 points, including a six-of-nine effort from downtown to go along with six boards. 

During the course of the season, the squad set or tied 27 school/PBC records.

The sensational season came to an end in the Final Four against West Liberty as one could argue those two squads could have met in the NCAA Championship if the bracket was reseeded then like it is in today's Division II Championship.

Although there is no video of the regional or Elite Eight available, PacerSports.com spoke with Zimmerman about his experience during the 2013-14 postseason.