AIKEN, S.C. – The upset-minded Lander men's basketball team's chance of repeating as the Peach Belt Conference tournament champions came to an end Friday night when the ninth-seeded Bearcats lost to top-seeded USC Aiken, 96-64, in the quarterfinal round at the Convocation Center.

Lander finishes the season at 10-19, while the No. 5-ranked Pacers, who improve to 26-2, advance to Saturday's 8 p.m. semifinal contest against fourth-seeded North Georgia College & State University.

Senior Zach Evans led the Bearcats with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Houston Wright added 11 and Ford “Scooter” Lawrence 10.

Jeremy Fears scored a game-high 33 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Chris Commons scored 24 points and had 10 rebounds to lead USC Aiken.

USCA, which led 42-30 at halftime, connected on 29-of-60 field goals for 48.3 percent, including 11-of-26 three pointers for 42.3 percent. The Pacers were 27-of-35 from the free throw line for 77.1 percent. USC Aiken outrebounded Lander, 40-36.

Lander was 19-of-53 from the field for 35.8 percent, 6-of-19 from the three-point line for 31.6 percent, and 20-of-32 from the foul line for 62.5 percent. There were 55 fouls called in the game.

The Bearcats stayed close to the Pacers for most of the first half and were within one point at 16-15 with 10:37 remaining. In the final 3:25 of the half, USC Aiken made a 13-3 run to go up by 12 at halftime.

USCA shot 51.5 from the field in the second half and made 9-of-16 three pointers. Lander's shot 28.6 percent in the second stanza.