AIKEN, S.C. – Clayton State (5-9, 2-6 PBC) gave No. 7/10 USC Aiken (15-1, 9-1 PBC) all they could handle in a back-and-forth shootout before finally falling by a 97-93 score in the finals seconds in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, January 19.
 
Redshirt-senior guard Aubrey McRae (Augusta, Ga.) exploded for 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the foul line and added a career-high six assists to go with four rebounds to pace the Lakers while senior forward Jaylen Taylor (Hephzibah, Ga.) wasn't far behind with 21 points and eight boards.
 
Senior guard Justin Tuckson (Stafford, Va.) knocked down 4-of-7 threes on his way to 14 points while junior guard Christoff Nairn (West Palm Beach, Fla.) went 6-of-10 from the floor for his 14 points. Redshirt-senior forward JaCarl Owens (Orlando, Fla.) rounded things out with a team-high nine caroms.
 
Clayton State took a shot to the gut right away as Ty'lik Evans came out and knocked down back-to-back three-pointers for a 6-0 USCA lead in the first 60 seconds. After the initial shock of that turn of events, however, they would turn the tables on the Top-10 team, scoring the next 10 points as part of an overall 23-8 run over a span of 7:39.
 
That run, keyed by six points from McRae, five from Tuckson and four from freshman forward Ricardo Saams, Jr. (Miramar, Fla.), propelled the Lakers to a 23-14 lead by the 11:23 mark. Following a pair of Pacer free throws, the Lakers rebuilt their lead into double-figures at 31-19 just under three minutes later.
 
A tip-in by Evans brought it back to a 10 point margin but a personal foul and multiple USC Aiken technicals then sent Clayton State to the line for six free throws. McRae would proceed to knock down five of those to stretch to a commanding 36-21 advantage.
 
You don't get into the Top-10 in the country for no reason, however, and the Pacers showed why they are there as they put together a 16-5 run in the span of 3:39 to cut it to 41-37 with 3:26 left in the half. That run featured three triples and 12 points from Xzavier Barmore. Over the final three-plus minutes the Lakers defense would step up as they would quell that run and head to the break with a 43-39 advantage.
 
It would be a lead that would dissipate quickly in the second half, however, as five straight points as part of a 9-4 burst over the first 2:25 flipped the script and put the Pacers up 48-47. A Laker free throw would tie the game seconds later but seven straight points from USCA powered them to a 55-48 lead by the 15:51 mark.
 
Following an exchange of buckets, Clayton State trailed 57-50 but quickly narrowed the gap to two with five straight points. The margin would grow right back to seven points before a 6-2 stretch, completely powered by Taylor, drew the Lakers to within 62-61 with 11:58 to play.
 
From there things would take a decidedly Pacer turn as they exploded for another 16-5 run featuring six different scorers and resulting in a 78-66 lead by the 9:12 mark. Three buckets by Taylor, including a fastbreak dunk, would then play a large role in cutting that deficit all the way to 78-76 with 6:33 on the clock.
 
It would continue to be a back-and-forth affair as Barmore answered with a triple and Shaquan Jules reared back for a thunderous dunk to make it 83-78 but Tuckson came right back at the other end with a straight away three to cut it back to a two point deficit. Consecutive baskets by USCA would then extend to 87-81 at the 3:36 mark.
 
After a Laker free throw, the clubs exchanged three-pointers that left the score at 90-85 and then promptly matched conventional buckets to maintain that five point margin. Jules added another tip-in for the Pacers to push it to seven but Tuckson drained another three at the other end to slice it to four.
 
Clayton State would not go away despite a pair of free throws by Faison Brock that made it 96-90 with seven seconds to play. McRae knocked down a quick three to cut it to three with four on the clock but the Pacers would convert one of two free throws and run out the clock on the narrow 97-93 victory.
 
Evans erupted for 31 points on 8-of-13 shooting beyond the arc and added eight boards, seven assists and three steals to lead USC Aiken. He was joined by Barmore with 25 points and six assists and Jules with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds along with three blocks. Brock wasn't far behind with 14 points, nine caroms and four assists to round out the top performers.
 
The Lakers return to action on Monday, January 21 when they take on Lander in a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day matinee. Game time is set for approximately 3:30 p.m. following the women's contest in Greenwood, South Carolina.