AIKEN, S.C. – The USCA men's basketball team recorded a 96-64 victory over Erskine Tuesday evening.

The Pacers are now 4-1 on the season.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by Deandre Smart's 17-point, 13-rebound effort. Caleb Byrd also had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Jackson Roberts and Montraivis White had 12 points apiece in the win. Jonah Lawrence tallied nine points, six assists and three steals while TJ Jackson had nine markers. Josiah Harding and McCaskill Rivers totaled seven points each while Brock Cherry and William Vasser Jr., accounted for six points apiece.

Down 10-4 in the early going, Roberts and Jackson each hit two free throws. Lawrence added one before Smart and Harding connected on lay-ups for a 14-10 edge. Leading 14-13, the Pacers embarked on a 9-0 run. During the spurt, Byrd nailed a three-ball.

Holding a 23-16 advantage, Vanderslice's squad went on another run – this time an 11-0 one. Roberts converted a three-point play before Harding and White each hit shots from distance. Vasser Jr., also canned a jumper for a 34-16 margin at the 6:28 mark. The teams played virtually even the rest of the half as USCA held a 49-30 advantage at the break after Jackson buried two three-point shots in the final 47 seconds.  

A 19-4 run to open the second half put the game away for USCA. Roberts got things going with a lay-up off a pass from Lawrence. White netted the next four points before Byrd canned a charity toss. Lawrence hit four straight free throws for a 58-30 edge. Cherry scored the next three points before Smart hit a three-point shot. Lawrence had a steal and a dunk. Moments later, Lawrence hit two free throws for a 68-34 lead.

The Flying Fleet could get no closer than 27 the rest of the way. 

For the game, USCA hit 28-of-68 (41.2 percent) from the floor, including nine-of-36 (25.0 percent) from downtown. The squad canned 31-of-40 (77.5 percent) from the charity stripe. The Pacers held a commanding 36-8 edge in the paint. The team converted 20 turnovers into 24 points and held a 24-1 edge in second-chance points.

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