Men's Basketball | June 08, 2021

AIKEN, S.C. – Throughout the month of June, the University of South Carolina Aiken Athletic Communications office will showcase the top moment from each program from the 2020-21 academic year.

The men's basketball team played a condensed schedule for the 2020-21 season. The squad played 16 regular-season contests, including just 14 PBC games. 

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team went 8-6 in league play and made the four-team PBC Tournament. After splitting a pair of non-conference games against Lander, the Pacers opened the season, USC Aiken opened PBC play with an eight-point loss at Young Harris. However, the youthful team rebounded to win its next five league games.

After a three-game losing streak, the Pacers rebounded with a home win over Lander. The squad picked up a road win at Augusta before downing Francis Marion in a nail-biter by a score of 73-30. 

The Pacers earned the No. 4 seed in the PBC Tournament. USC Aiken traveled to Flagler to face the league champions and dropped a hard-fought contest in the PBC Semifinals to the Saints. 

However, being one of just four teams that qualified for the PBC Tournament was the team's highlight of the season.