AIKEN, S.C. –
Vaughn McCall scored a team-high 15 points as Flagler College suffered a 72-66 defeat at the University of South Carolina Aiken in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
USC Aiken snaps a six-game losing streak, which included a 72-70 loss at Flagler on Monday, to improve to 3-10 overall and 1-5 in the Peach Belt. Flagler falls to 5-9 overall and 1-5 in conference play. The Saints are still looking for its first road win this season (0-6).
Flagler held the lead for nearly 23 minutes of the game, including a 28-24 lead at the half. However, USC Aiken used a 19-8 run midway through the second half to rally and take the lead for good. Jordan Foster sank a 3-pointer with 4:43 left in the game to stake the Pacers to a 60-57 lead. The Pacers only made one more field goal the rest of the way. In the final 2:37 of the game, USC Aiken made 9-of-its-12 free throws to put the game away.
After being held to three points in the first half, USC Aiken's Keith Belfield erupted for 23 points in the second half to finish with a game-high 26 points and he completed the double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds. Belfield made four 3-pointers and was 6-for-10 from the free throw line. Arbry Butler added 13 points and nine rebounds. Jevon Patton, who had 21 points and four assists against Flagler in the game last Monday, tallied six assists and scored all five of his points from the free throw line in the last 2:30-plus in the game.
The Pacers were opportunistic as they forced 12 turnovers and turned them into 17 points.
Nick Grier added 12 points and three assists for the Saints.
Keshaun Hamilton grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Keith Gray chipped in with eight points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
Flagler hosts Georgia Southwestern State University (6-7 overall, 2-4 PBC) on Tuesday (Jan. 12) at a special time of 10:30 a.m. at Flagler Gymnasium. The team is hosting over 400 St. Johns County eighth graders for "Education Day" at Flagler Gymnasium.
