AIKEN, S.C. - USC Aiken men's basketball team (2-2) ended the four-game Peach Belt/South Atlantic Conference Clash with a loss against the Presbyterian College Blue Hose (5-1) Friday evening. In a hard fought battle the Presbyterian offense proved too much for the Pacers as Tray Ballenger and Martynas Versinskas led the Blue Hose with season-high 19 and 16 points.
Presbyterian showed its offensive strength early as the team pulled ahead 6-0 one minute into the game and would go on to set the pace for the aggressive match. USCA battled right back with a 10-2 run putting the Pacers within two at 15:33.
With just over four minutes to go in the half a slam dunk by the Pacers Richard Blocker gave USCA its first lead of the night at 24-23. The Blue Hose pushed on to a 13-3 run, ending the half at 36-27.
Four minutes into the second half, Kenny Burr hit a three-point shot to get the Pacers within five at 36-41. The gap would be the closest gain for USCA during the remainder of the night. The Blue Hose held a comfortable lead for the rest of the game and closed the second half on a 12-0 to win 67-58.
Josh Poston led the Pacers with 18 points shooting six-of-nine from the field.
The Blue Hose had tremendous success off the bench out-scoring the Pacers 39-26 and showed strength in the paint beating out USCA 42-18. The Blue Hose shot 83.3 percent from the charity stripe and USCA shot 63.2 percent.
Junior Quentin Ferrell (N. Augusta, S.C.) and sophomore Pat Kiscaden (Oviedo, Fla.) each dished out six assists apiece as the Blue Hose were credited with 19 assists on 31 made baskets.
PC returns to action Monday, November 28 when they host the Warriors of Southern Wesleyan University at 7:00 pm in the Ross E. Templeton Center.
