YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team put a damper on Homecoming at Young Harris by picking up an 89-76 victory Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 17-9 overall and 11-5 in league play.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by Jalen McCoy's career-high 30 points. His 14 field goals are the seventh-most made buckets in a single game in USC Aiken's Division II history. Tehree Horn added 20 points and six rebounds while LaTreavin Black narrowly missed a double-double with 17 points and nine boards. He also added a pair of assists.

Preston Parks hit for eight points and dished out six assists while Demitrios Dixon added five points.  David Strother distributed a season-high nine assists.

After a back-and-forth first half, the Mountain Lions ended up holding a one-point edge at the break.

Trailing 43-40, McCoy hit a foul shot. Three free throws by Dixon at the 17:40 mark gave the visitors the lead, 44-43. Down 47-44, Dixon found McCoy for a lay-up. Seconds later, McCoy was credited with an assist as Dixon hit a bucket, giving the Pacers a 48-47 lead.

A three-ball from Mason McMurray pushed the margin to four prior to Parks and Horn hitting baskets for a nine-point advantage. Horn's lay-up at the 10:55 mark pushed the lead to 10, 62-52. The Mountain Lions pulled within six but Parks connected with Horn for an eight-point margin.

Up 66-60, Black converted an old-fashioned three-point play. Horn hit a shot and Black made two more free throws for a 7-0 spurt and a 13-point lead. YHC made it a seven-point contest two more times but Vanderslice's team quickly answered and was not threatened the rest of the way.   

For the game, USC Aiken hit 36-of-70 from the floor (51.4 percent). The team was efficient at the line, hitting 14-of-16 (87.5 percent). The Pacers out-rebounded the home team 38-33. Vanderslice's squad dished out 25 assists and converted 15 turnovers into 17 points. USC Aiken controlled the paint, scoring 62 points in the lane.  

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they host Columbus State at 7:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.