PEMBROKE, N.C. – The USCA men's basketball team knocked off UNC Pembroke 101-87 Friday evening in the season opener.

The Pacers are now 1-0 while the Braves fall to 0-3.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by Jalen McCoy's game-high 34 points on 13-of-18 shooting from the floor. He canned seven-of-eight from the charity stripe and added six rebounds as well as three steals for good measure. McCoy's 34 points are the most by a USCA men's basketball student-athlete in a season-opening game since Chris Commons erupted for 38 points against Mars Hill to open the 2007-08 season.

Davion Cunningham poured in 29 points and snagged 10 rebounds in his USCA debut while Rhyjon Blackwell accounted for 20 points. Cunningham and Blackwell each hit three shots from distance.

Caleb Byrd added six points and five rebounds while Rafael Rubel chipped in five markers in the win.

The squad trailed 13-8 in the early going before Cam Perkins found Blackwell for a three-ball. Cunningham's two free throws gave the Pacers a 15-14 lead. Up 24-23, McCoy converted an old-fashioned three-point play at the 8:05 mark. McCoy netted four more points on ensuing possessions for a 31-23 advantage.

The Braves made it 38-32 but Rubel found Cunningham for a three-point bucket with 4:01 to play. Cunningham netted four free throws for a 13-point margin. Just before halftime, McCoy stole the ball and nailed a three-point bucket from 27-feet out for a 52-38 advantage at the break.

McCoy's lay-up to start the scoring in the second half extended the margin to 16. However, UNCP pulled within five at 67-62. Byrd answered with a shot from distance, sparking a 10-0 run. During the run, Cunningham netted two free throws and nailed a three-point shot while Mason Grant buried a jumper.

The Braves made it a 10-point game late, but Blackwell drained a step-back three-point shot for a 98-85 lead. McCoy's two charity tosses with 39 ticks remaining pushed the team above the 100-point plateau.

For the game, USCA buried 34-of-60 (56.7 percent) from the floor, including 10-of-22 (45.5 percent) from distance. Vanderslice's team got to the charity stripe 31 times and hit 23 attempts (74.2 percent).

The Pacers netted 42 points in the paint, tallied 25 points off 16 turnovers and recorded 39 points off the bench.

It marked the fourth time USCA has scored at least 100 points in a season opener since 1974-75.

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