AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken used an early 15-2 run to defeat Flagler College 89-73 in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Monday night at the Convocation Center.

USC Aiken extended its winning streak to two games and improved to 7-6 overall and evened its record in the Peach Belt at 2-2. Flagler suffered its sixth consecutive loss and dropped to 5-6 overall and 0-4 in conference play.

Flagler opened the game with a 4-1 lead after baskets by Keshaun Hamilton and Kessler Bell, but the Pacers went on a 15-2 run over the next 3:32 and held the Saints at bay for the remainder of the game.

USC Aiken led 46-34 at the half and took advantage of some second half foul problems for Flagler to seal the victory. Hamilton fouled out of the game with 11:10 left and Desmond Gibson picked up his fifth foul with a little over one minute left in the game.

Flagler's Jerrell Oxendine led all scorers with 23 points which tied his career-high. He made 7 of his 9 shot from the field which included four 3-pointers and he made 5 of 6 from the free throw line. Lydell Manigo added 17 points. Gibson came off the bench to grab a game-high eight rebounds and he blocked four shots which tied him for sixth place all-time with 86 blocks (Jamie Jenkins, 2003-05).

The Saints shot 50% (25-50) from the field but ran into a hot perimeter shooting team in the Pacers (58.3%, 14-24).

Andre' Anthony led four Pacers in double-figures with 17 points and added five rebounds to go along with four assists. Hendrix Emu came off the bench to supply 16 points and six rebounds while Albert Miller III sank five 3-pointers to account for all of his 15 points. Caleb Stewart tacked on 10 points. Dominic Early led USC Aiken with seven rebounds.

Flagler heads north to take on Francis Marion University on Wednesday (Jan. 7) at 7:30 p.m. at Florence, South Carolina.