GREENWOOD, S.C. – The USCA men's basketball team dropped a hard fought 91-81 contest at No. 1 Lander in the first round of the PBC Tournament.

The Pacers conclude the season at 13-16.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team was led by TJ Jackson's game-high 27 points, including 15 from downtown. Jackson also buried 10-of-11 from the charity stripe. Caleb Byrd poured in 20 points and snagged five rebounds.

McCaskill Rivers tallied 15 points and five rebounds while Jonah Lawrence tallied 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. Jackson Roberts and Deandre Smart had two points apiece. Chedlet Delva grabbed 11 rebounds and had a point. Brock Cherry grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists.

Down 4-0 in the early going, Rivers sparked a 7-0 spurt. After draining a jumper, he found Lawrence for a three-ball. Lawrence promptly connected with Rivers for a lay-up, giving the visitors a 7-4 lead. The back-and-forth affair saw the teams knotted at 14-14. Then, Cherry found Jackson for a three-point bucket at the 13:15 mark. Moments later, Jackson was fouled on a three-point attempt and calmly buried all three charity tosses for a 20-16 edge.

Tied at 25-25, Jackson found Lawrence for a thunderous dunk at the 9:20 mark. Roberts connected with Rivers for a three-point bucket and a Lawrence free throw pushed the margin to four, 31-27. Trailing 41-40, Byrd hit a long-distance shot with 3:09 remaining in the half. Vanderslice's team trailed 47-44, but Jackson was fouled on another shot from downtown and canned all three charity shots, sending the teams into halftime tied at 47-47.

Lawrence opened the second period by finding Jackson, who calmly nailed another three-point bucket.  Up 54-53, Jackson made two free throws at the 15:24 mark. After the Bearcats snagged a 57-56 advantage, Byrd found Rivers for a three-ball, once again giving USCA the lead, 59-57. The back-and-forth affair saw the teams trade leads again. Lawrence hit a pair of baskets, helping the Pacers take a 63-62 edge.

Down 67-63, Rivers recorded an old-fashioned three-point play. Jackson's straight-away three-ball over a defender tied the contest at 69-69. Moments later, Lawrence found Jackson for another shot from distance. Two free throws by Jackson propelled the Pacers to a 76-75 lead. Lawrence hit Rivers for a lay-up, helping the squad take a one-point edge, 78-77.

Lander went on a 12-0 run, taking an 89-78 lead with 1:27 remaining.

For the game, USCA hit 27-of-68 from the floor, including 10-of-31 from distance. The Pacers hit 17-of-21 from the charity stripe. USCA grabbed 38 rebounds, including 15 on the offensive glass. Vanderslice's team dished out 14 assists and had 19 second-chance points.