AUGUSTA, Ga. – The College of South Carolina Aiken males’s basketball group’s super season got here to an finish in a hard-fought 89-83 loss in opposition to third-seeded Lincoln Memorial Tuesday night within the Candy 16.

The Pacers finish the 12 months at 24-9.

USC Aiken practically had a sensational comeback after trailing 75-59 within the waning moments however LMU held on for the win.

Head coach Mark Vanderslice’s group was led by Jalen McCoy’s career-high 34 factors. He was 12-of-22 from the ground, together with four-of-five from downtown. McCoy scored 19 factors over the ultimate 3:13, accounting for all however three USC Aiken scored throughout that point.

Karon Boyd added 16 factors whereas Jameel Rideout tallied 13 within the contest. Rideout additionally snagged seven rebounds. Tehree Horn and Tyler Johnson added seven factors apiece. Samba Ndiaye accounted for six rebounds.

USC Aiken jumped out to a 5-0 lead simply 1:36 into the sport. Rideout canned a three-ball off a cross from Horn earlier than Horn beat the protection for a lay-up.

Trailing 9-7, McCoy discovered Ndiaye for a bucket. Then, Johnson made an inside shot for a two-point benefit. Moments later, a Rideout jumper gave the guests a 13-12 edge on the 14:45 mark.

LMU went on an 8-0 spurt for a 20-13 lead earlier than McCoy netted 5 straight factors to drag inside two at 20-18. Vanderslice’s group was down 34-23 however Boyd buried a three-ball. Horn hit a foul shot to drag the Pacers inside seven.

Down 42-31, McCoy hit two free throws on the 2:03 mark. With 1:29 to play, Boyd nailed a jumper. Trailing 44-35, Boyd hit an 18-foot fadeaway on the buzzer to make it 44-37 on the break.  

After intermission, LMU hit a shot with 19:14 to play however USC Aiken responded shortly. Johnson hit a lay-up earlier than Boyd took a cross from Rideout for a basket. Rideout’s shot from method downtown tied the sport at 46-46.

The Railsplitters netted the following 4 factors however Horn and McCoy every canned pictures, as soon as once more tying the sport with 16:02 to play at 50-50.

LMU went on a 9-2 run earlier than McCoy’s lay-up made it a five-point contest, 59-54, on the 10:30 mark. Down 64-54, Rideout hit one-of-two from the road and McCoy made a lay-to pull inside seven at 64-57. The Railspitters responded with a 9-0 run earlier than Boyd hit two free throws with 4:29 to go to make it 73-59.

Six straight factors by McCoy inside a 20-second span made it 75-65 with 2:47 to play. Trailing 79-68, McCoy buried a three-point shot with 2:08 remaining. He was fouled on a three-point shot and calmly nailed the charity tosses to drag inside 5, 79-74 on the 1:54 mark.

LMU led 83-74 earlier than McCoy hit one from 25 ft out, making it 83-77 with 1:03 remaining. McCoy canned a 3 ball and was fouled. He missed the free throw however Rideout hit one from throughout the river to drag inside two at 85-83.

USC Aiken fouled with 17 seconds remaining and the Railsplitters hit each free throws for a four-point edge. The Pacers tried to hit a runner alongside the baseline, but it surely narrowly missed with 9 ticks left. LMU hit two free throws for the ultimate margin.  

For the sport, USC Aiken hit 31-of-81 from the ground (38.3 p.c), together with nine-of-28 from downtown (32.1 p.c). The Pacers scored 24 factors off turnovers and held a 40-28 edge within the paint.

Postgame Interview