FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The No. 11 USCA men's basketball team lost a hard fought 85-80 contest at Fayetteville State Tuesday evening.

The Pacers are now 4-1 on the season.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by Jalen McCoy's team-high 29 points and seven rebounds. Davion Cunningham added 16 points and three rebounds while Rhyjon Blackwell added 10 points. Rafael Rubel tallied six points and two assists while Kaleb Siler notched six points and a team-best 11 rebounds.

Trailing 10-8 in the early going, Siler knotted the game with a jumper. Blackwell's pull-up bucket gave USCA a 12-10 lead at the 16:46 mark. Down 14-12, Cunningham found Rubel for a three-ball for a one-point advantage.

FSU held a 25-22 lead before Siler and Blackwell hit back-to-back baskets. The home team held a 27-26 edge before Rubel found McCoy for a three-ball. With 4:34 to play, McCoy's hook shot put Vanderslice's team up 31-27. Leading 35-34, Blackwell hit a floater with 1:16 to go. However, FSU knotted the score with a three-point shot just before halftime.

Trailing 46-45, McCoy hit a jumper at the 15:30 mark. Seconds later, Blackwell buried a pair of free throws for a three-point lead. McCoy brought the Pacers within one on a driving lay-up at the 7:50 mark. Down 70-67, Cunningham converted a three-point play with 5:23 to play. Cunningham's lay-up with just under 5:00 to play knotted the score at 72-72.

Down 75-72, Caleb Byrd found McCoy for a jumper. After a bucket by FSU, McCoy's hook shot once again brought USCA within one at 77-76 with 3:00 to go. Cunningham hit one-of-two free throws at the 2:21 mark, making the score 79-77. A three-ball from Byrd pulled the Pacers within one at 81-80 with 39 ticks on the clock.

Vanderslice's team forced a turnover with 15 seconds to play, but USCA missed an attempt with two seconds remaining. The team was forced to foul and FSU made both free throws. The home team was fouled again and hit two more charity tosses for the final margin.

For the game, USCA hit 33-of-66 from the floor, including six-of-19 from the three-point line. Vanderslice's team hit eight-of-11 from the charity stripe. The Pacers held a 39-31 edge on the boards, including a 16-11 edge on the offensive glass. USCA scored 42 points in the paint and had 22 second chance points.  

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