BEAUFORT, S.C. – The No. 18 University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team secured an 83-80 overtime win at USC Beaufort Wednesday evening behind a career-high 34 points from Tyler Johnson.

The Pacers are now 15-2 overall, including 6-1 in league play.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by Johnson's double-double effort of 34 points and 13 rebounds. He also added four assists in 41 minutes of work.

Tehree Horn added 15 points and nine boards while Demitrios Dixon chipped in 10 points, three assists and three steals.

Jameel Rideout accounted for eight points and four assists. Rhyjon Blackwell and Simeon German netted five points apiece. Chedlet Delva had four points while Devin Evans added two markers. Delva snagged eight boards while German totaled seven rebounds and a pair of blocks.

Trailing 11-8 with just under 16 minutes to play, Johnson found Dixon for a three-point bucket. At the 15:01 mark, Dixon connected with Johnson for a three-ball, giving the visitors a 14-11 edge. USCB led 31-23 before Rideout converted a lay-up at the 6:20 mark. Down 33-25, Delva hit a pair of free throws with 5:21 to play.

With 4:31 to go, Johnson hit a driving lay-up before Dixon found the bottom of the net from deep to pull within three at 35-32. The Sand Sharks held a 37-32 lead before Johnson made two free throws and Horn connected on an inside shot. Tied at 39-39, Horn drained two charity tosses with 1:27 to play but the home team hit a shot just before intermission, knotting the score at 41-41.

Blackwell buried a three-ball to get things going in the second half. Horn's jumper pushed the margin to five, 46-41. With 14:08 to go, Dixon hit a free throw to go up 51-45. USC Aiken held a six-point edge when Johnson scored three straight points.

Down 60-57, Horn found the bottom of the net with a step-back jumper. With 7:12 to play, Johnson canned a three-ball. Horn then gave the visitors a 64-60 lead on a twisting lay-up. Tied at 64-64, Rideout kicked the ball to Horn on the wing who promptly rattled home a three-point bucket.

USCB answered with a 9-0 spurt for a 73-67 margin with 1:18 to go. With 57 seconds left, Johnson split the defense, made a lay-up and drew the foul. He hit the ensuing free throw to make it a three-point game. German hit one-of-two free throws seconds later.

After forcing a miss, USC Aiken snagged the rebound. The Pacers scampered up the court but a stoppage in play allowed for a time-out. On the pass, Johnson split the Sand Sharks and threw down a thunderous dunk, tying the game at 73-73. USCB was fouled with one second on the clock but a pair of missed free throws sent the game into overtime after Johnson corralled the rebound.

Trailing 75-73 after a basket by the home team, Johnson ignited the visitors with four straight points. German converted a three-point play for an 80-75 advantage at the 2:02 mark. Leading 80-78, Johnson went to his right and hit a floater high off the glass for a four-point margin.

The home squad pulled within two with 27 seconds to go but Rideout extended the margin to three, 83-80, by hitting a free throw with 22 seconds remaining. Solid defense by USC Aiken forced a long-distance three-point shot that was unsuccessful at the buzzer, securing the win.

For the game, USC Aiken hit 29-of-64 (45.3 percent) from the floor, including nine-of-24 (37.5 percent) from downtown. The squad hit 16 free throws in the game. Vanderslice's team dished out 13 assists. The squad tallied 16 second-chance points in the win.

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