GREENWOOD – Chris Commons scored 20 points as No. 10-ranked USC Aiken used a 17-1 run in the second half to turn back Lander's upset bid 78-67 in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Horne Arena.

Aiken improved to 12-3 overall and maintained first place in the Peach Belt with a 7-1 record. The Bearcats fell to 8-6, 4-4.

Cordaryl Ballard added 18 points for the Pacers, Mark Brown scored 16 points, and Josh Dollard scored 10 points. Ballard had a game-high eight rebounds, all on the defensive end.

Houston Wright led Lander with 20 points while Ford “Scooter” Lawrence added 10 points and five assists. Curtis Milner led the Bearcats with seven rebounds.

Each team missed 10 of their first 13 shots of the game and neither squad reached double figures in points until Ballard's basket gave Aiken an 11-8 lead with 11:34 left in the first half.

There were several ties and lead changes through the rest of the first half as the Pacers led 32-30 at the break. Highlights for Lander were 3-pointers by Lawrence and Jacob Davis, and a dunk by Brenton Harris off a pass from Lawrence. Aiken closed the first half with the final five points, including Brown's 3-pointer and a tip-in by Commons.

Wright hit three quick baskets for the Bearcats while Brown scored seven consecutive Aiken points as the game remained tight through the first five minutes of the second half.

After Kevin Kelley's 3-pointer gave Lander a 43-42 lead, the Pacers used a 17-1 run highlighted by a tip-in, 3-pointer and four free throws by Commons, and Brown's three-point play for a 59-44 lead with 10:43 to go.

But the Bearcats stormed back with 11 unanswered points on Wright's two baskets and a three-point play after a reverse lay-up, and Kelley's 3-pointer to close within 59-55 with 8:17 left.

Aiken regained the momentum as Ballard made a basket and Commons scored twice inside to push its lead back to 65-55 at the 6:30 mark. Lander used a 6-2 run to close within 67-61 on Lawrence's free throw with 3:11 to go.

The Pacers pushed further ahead to a seemingly comfortable 72-61 advantage on Brown's 3-pointer and a Commons basket inside. But Lander kept battling. Lawrence got a back-court steal and basket and was fouled. Although he missed the free throw, Kelley got the offensive rebound and nailed a long 3-pointer to pull the hosts within 72-66 at the 1:35 mark.

But Aiken's Sterling Council hit two free throws with 1:09 left and Ballard added another with 48 seconds to go to make it 75-66. Commons scored Aiken's final three points from the line.
 
For the game, Lander made 23 of 55 shots from the floor (42 percent), 13 of 23 free throws (57 percent), and eight of 19 from behind the 3-point line (57 percent). Aiken made 25 of 52 shots (48 percent), 23 of 32 free throws (72 percent), and five of 19 from 3-point range (26 percent). The Pacers had a 36-35 edge on the boards and each team committed 15 turnovers.