AIKEN, S.C. – After a close first half, the Lander men's basketball team fell to the USC Aiken Pacers 69-55 Wednesday night.

Lander is now 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the PBC while Aiken moves to 7-5 overall and 6-4 in the PBC.

The Bearcats were led by junior Jermaine Patterson's 14 points. Patterson also had three rebounds and three assists on the night. Senior DaJuan Moorer and redshirt junior Zane Rankin also hit double figures in scoring. Moorer had 13 points on a 6-of-9 shooting night. He also had six rebounds and two steals. Rankin saw all 12 of his points come from long range, as he drilled four 3-pointers along with hauling in seven rebounds. 

The first half saw both teams take turns controlling the lead, as the two squads were evenly matched through the first 20 minutes.

Lander shot 15-of-34 (.441) from the field and 6-of-23 (.200) from 3-point range while USC Aiken shot 14-of-30 (.467) and 2-of-8 (.250) from beyond the arc. 

With all the back-and-forth action, the Pacers would take a slim 35-33 advantage into the half.

The similarities would stop after the first half, with the Pacers outscoring the Bearcats 34-22 in the second frame.

Shooting woes hurt the Bearcats' chance of making a comeback, as the Blue and Gold shot 6-of-23 (.261) from the floor in the second half and 3-for-11 (.273) from beyond the arc. Trouble at the free-throw line didn't help matters either, as Lander went 7-for-16 (.438) from the charity stripe in the second frame of action. 

Aiken on the other hand would shoot above 40 percent from the floor yet again, as the Pacers shot 13-for-31 (.419) from the floor. 

Lander will be on the road for its next contest, as the Bearcats travel to Francis Marion on February 13.

#cLawsUp | @LanderMBB