AIKEN, S.C. – UNCP used a 22-6 run to rally back from an 11-point deficit early in the second period, but USC Aiken answered with a 15-0 run of its own and then held off a late rally by the visitors to post an 86-79 victory over the Braves on Saturday evening in the Convocation Center.

The setback snapped a five-game win streak for the Braves (6-4, 0-1 PBC) who fell to 10-11 all-time in Peach Belt Conference openers. The triumph marked the second-straight win for USC Aiken (4-2, 1-1) who improved to 29-14 all-time against the Black & Gold, including a 17-4 mark in Aiken.

Four players tallied double-figure scoring numbers for UNCP, including Shahmel Brackett who registered a team-high 19 points. Senior big man George Blakeney added 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for his third double-double of the campaign, while Quamain Rose and Ben Jacobs chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Re'mon Nelson scored a game-high 25 points for the hosts who also got double-figure scoring efforts from four other players as well. Santoine Butler scored 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, Paul Larsen added 13 points and Ronald Zimmerman and Kinley Branch each scored 11 points apiece.

USC Aiken, who entered the game as the nation's top 3-point shooting team (52 percent), was held to just a 4-of-16 success rate from the perimeter, but the Pacers were aided by a dismal 11-for-24 effort from the free throw line by the Braves.

The Pacers pushed a four-point halftime lead out to 11 points, 52-41, just less than four minutes into the second half, but a layup by Jacobs with 16:12 to play sparked the visitors on a 22-6 rally that eventually gave UNCP a 63-58 advantage on another layup by Jacobs nearly six minutes later. USC Aiken would answer the surge with one of its own, however, as the Pacers connected on six of their next seven shots from the field, as well as trio of free throw attempts, to take a 73-63 lead into the game's final five minutes.

UNCP pulled to within four points, 78-74, on a layup by Brackett with 1:23 remaining, but USC Aiken connected on all eight of its free throw attempts down the stretch to secure the win.

The Pacers used a 10-0 scoring spurt early in the first half to stake claim to an 18-7 advantage just five minutes into the contest and led by as much as 16 points with 7:39 left before the intermission, but UNCP had trimmed its deficit down to just four points, 43-39, heading into the locker rooms.

The Braves will be back in action again on Monday when they return home to lock horns with Lander (4-2, 0-1) in the back half of a 5:30 p.m. basketball doubleheader in the English E. Jones Center.