Pacers Erase 11-Point Second Half Deficit For 78-66 Victory

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Visiting USC Aiken erased an 11-point second-half deficit to come away with a 78-66 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory over host Armstrong Atlantic State on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena.

The win was the sixth straight for the Pacers (8-3, 3-1 PBC), as well as the sixth straight for USC Aiken over Armstrong Atlantic State (5-7, 0-3 PBC) over the last three seasons.

The Pirates built a five-point halftime lead, 35-30, and extended that lead to 11 on a Nigel Lee jumper with 15:50 remaining that made the score 46-35. A layup by Rashad Flowers and back-to-back three-pointers by Byron Faison, however, combined with a four-minute scoreless stretch by the Pirates winnowed that lead down, and the Pacers took the lead for good with on another Faison three-pointer with 8:54 left that made the score 56-54 USC Aiken.

The Pacers shot an outstanding 66.7 percent from the floor in the second half (18-of-27), including hitting 6-of-11 three-pointers, to pull away from the Pirates and pick up the victory. AASU shot just 37 percent in the second half (10-of-27) and made just 8-of-15 free throws after intermission.

Senior Keron McKenzie led all players on the day for the Pirates with 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-9 three-pointers. Senior Patrick Shokpeka added 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and Gabriel Robinson added 10 points and six assists.

Faison led the Pacers with 15 points - 13 in the second half - while Michael Technow came off the bench to add a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds and Mark Brown chipped in 14 points.

AASU returns to action on Wednesday, January 13, with a 7:30 p.m. Peach Belt Conference contest against No. 3-ranked Augusta State at Alumni Arena.