AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team came up just short in the team's upset bid of No. 12 Augusta, falling 69-60.

The Pacers are now 16-9 overall, including 10-5 in league play. The Jaguars improve to 22-3 overall and 12-3 on the year.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by Jalen McCoy's 15 points and five rebounds. Tehree Horn and Preston Parks each netted 12 points while David Strother posted 10 markers. 

LaTreavin Black accounted for six points, eight rebounds and three steals while Demitrios Dixon and Mason McMurray hit for three points and two points, respectively.

Trailing 9-8, McCoy and Horn hit back-to-back buckets. Up 13-11, Strother canned a jumper before Parks netted six consecutive points for a 19-11 edge. 

The teams had a back-and-forth affair for the rest of the first half. A Parks free throw gave the home team a 30-29 lead, but the Jaguars netted the next three points. A three-ball from Horn off a pass form Parks gave the home squad a 33-32 advantage at the break. 

AU jumped out to a 44-38 lead but Strother sliced into the margin with a jumper. A lay-up by Strother pulled the Pacers within two at 46-44. The Jaguars increased their lead to five with 9:00 to play but Black and McCoy each found the bottom of the net to make it a 53-52 game with 7:49 to go. 

The visitors embarked on a 7-0 spurt for a 60-52 lead. A pair of free throws by USC Aiken with 34 seconds cut the deficit to four, 62-58, but the team could get no closer the rest of the way as the Jaguars made their free throws down the stretch. 

For the game, USC Aiken hit 22-of-60 from the floor (36.7 percent). The squad connected on 14-of-19 from the charity stripe (73.7 percent). USC Aiken tallied 34 points in the paint.

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