USC Aiken Captures PBC Men's Basketball Championship

AIKEN, S.C.— Trailing by as many as six in the second half, #5 USC Aiken (24-2, 18-1 PBC) used a 9-0 run late in the game to defeat visiting Clayton State (13-13, 9-10 PBC) 65-56 Wednesday night to clinch the Peach Belt Conference regular season championship. Coupled with a 91-83 loss by Augusta State at Columbus State, the Pacers win the PBC outright, their first league title since 1992-93 and second all-time.

As they have all season for head coach Vince Alexander’s squad, juniors Chris Commons and Jeremy Fears led the comeback, scoring 24 of their combined 40 points in the second half as USCA rallied from a four-point halftime deficit. Commons finished the game with 25 points while Fears added 15.

With their 11th-straight win and 24th overall, the Pacers also tie the single-season school record for wins in the program’s 33-year history. Improving to 13-0 in their brand-new arena, the USCA Convocation Center, Alexander’s team finished the regular season with an unblemished home record.

Trailing by one after a pair of free throws by Clayton State’s Armel Traore Dit Nignan with 5:39 remaining, USCA went on a 9-0 run sparked by the play of Fears to take control of the game. The junior guard drilled a three to start the run, made a steal and sank a pair of free throws on the subsequent possession, and then drilled a jumper after another defensive stop. After a Commons’ putback on the next possession, the Pacers led 55-47 with 3:09 remaining and never looked back.

Clayton State cut the lead to three on a Nignan dunk at the 1:23 mark, but the Pacers scored the next seven points, all at the free throw line. Kingsley Oguchi rebounded a missed jumper from Tracy Williams, and the Lakers quickly fouled junior Cordaryl Ballard with 27 seconds left. After a technical foul was assessed to the Clayton State bench, Ballard sank 3-for-4 at the line to extend the lead to 10.

In a first half that saw three lead changes and six ties, the Pacers jumped ahead early and led 7-2 on a Commons’ dunk. Clayton rallied to tie the game at 8-8, and the contest stayed close until a Pacer run beginning at the 6:55 mark.

Commons scored seven of nine points as the hosts rattled off a 9-1 spurt to turn an 18-18 game into a 27-19 lead with 4:59 remaining. However, USC Aiken would not score again in the period as the Lakers ended the half on a 13-0 run.

Clayton State led by as many as six (41-35) with 11:04 left in the game before USC Aiken rallied and eventually used the 9-0 spurt to take control.

Commons knocked down 8-for-13 from the field and 8-of-9 free throws for his game-high 25 points. Fears was the only other Pacer in double figures, recovering from a slow start to hit 5-for-12 shots from the field for 15 points. Bernard Fields scored 14 points while Nignan added 11 for the Lakers.

While the Pacers placed just two players in double figures, Ballard contributed a solid game with seven points, five rebounds and five assists. Oguchi had a rough shooting night and scored just two points but collected a game-high eight rebounds.

With the conference championship clinched, USC Aiken will play their regular season finale Sunday afternoon at Georgia College & State. Tip-off is slated for 4:00 PM. As the top seed and host, the Pacers will play in the quarterfinals of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament next Friday, March 7, at 7:00 PM. Play in the tournament at the USCA Convocation Center begins Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 PM.

Box Score