AIKEN, S.C. – The USCA men's basketball team limited Lander to just 18 points in the final 20 minutes of action for a 67-48 victory Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 20-8 overall, including 13-5 in PBC play. The win, coupled with a loss by Augusta at USC Beaufort, secured the No. 2 seed for USCA entering the PBC Tournament. 

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by Davion Cunningham's 16-point, 11-rebound effort. Simeon German added 15 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks while Jalen McCoy added 14 points and nine rebounds. Caleb Byrd contributed 10 points, five rebounds and two steals while Rhyjon Blackwell added seven points, four boards and two steals in the victory.

USCA jumped out to a 5-0 lead after a free throw by German. At the 16:01 mark, Cunningham buried a three-ball to make it 8-3. Trailing by two, Cunningham canned a jumper to knot the score. The Pacers maintained a small lead before Dwight Canady, Jr., hit a free throw and Cunningham connected for a lay-up at the 4:49 mark. 

Lander went on a run and held a 30-24 lead before German netted a jumper with 38 seconds to play, making it 30-26 at the break. 

The Pacers opened the second half with a 17-2 spurt and never looked back. Blackwell started it with a jumper. Down by two, he hit a pair of free throws. Another shot from distance from Blackwell made it 35-32. McCoy and German hit back-to-back shots before McCoy nailed another jumper. A field goal by Rafael Rubel extended the advantage to 43-32 at the 13:08 mark.

Lander cut it to nine twice, but Byrd nailed a lay-up, propelling the home team to a double-digit edge for good with 8:26 to play. USCA extended the margin to 20 when Byrd nailed a shot from downtown at the 5:28 mark. Vanderslice's team extended the cushion to 22 on a lay-up by German for the largest advantage of the game. 

For the game, USCA hit 29-of-69 (42.0 percent) from the floor. The team snagged 55 rebounds, including 21 on the offensive glass. Vanderslice's team outscored the visitors 38-18 in the paint and had an 18-5 edge in second chance points.

The Pacers return to action in the PBC Tournament. The PBC will announce the full bracket at the conclusion of the regular season.