AIKEN, S.C. --- USC Aiken's Jalen McCoy poured in 21 points to lead the Pacers to an 85-70 win over visiting Tusculum University Wednesday night at the USCA Convocation Center.
The Pacers improve to 2-1 on the season while the Pioneers (1-1) suffer their first win of the season.
USCA's Tehree Horn added 16 points and five rebounds, while Tyler Johnson totaled 14 points including four 3-pointers.
Tusculum newcomer Akeem Odusipe led the Black & Orange with 15 points off the bench on 6-of-8 shooting while grabbing seven rebounds. Josiah Morris posted 14 points with four 3-pointers, while Bryce Jackson and KJ Crump added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
USC Aiken scored the first 12 points of the game and went 17-for-34 for the opening half including 8-of-11 to start the game. The Pacers jumped out to a 30-11 lead following a triple by Jammy Pierre-Louis at the 7:38 mark of the first period before Tusculum trimmed the deficit to 44-31 at the half thanks to 11 first half points by Odusipe.
Tusculum got a three-point play from Crump to start the second half to cut the deficit to 10, but the Pacers responded with a 24-12 spurt to take its largest lead of the night at 68-48 following a pair of free throws from Horn with 8:11 remaining and would put the game out of reach.
USCA finished the game shooting 44.3 percent from the floor including 12-of-23 from three-point territory (52.2%). The Pacers also went 19-of 29 from the free throw line and committed only six turnovers on the night.
Tusculum shot 34 percent from the field including 8-of-27 from beyond the arch (30%). TU shot a respectable 24-of-30 from the free throw line (80%) including 17-of-21 in the second half. Tusculum edged the Pacers 41-37 on the board but Aiken converted the Pioneers 12 turnovers into 21 points.
TU's Connor Jordan got all of his seven points from the charity stripe where he went 7-of-8 from the foul line. Kobe Funderburk added five points, Ray'Quan Taylor had four points and Travis Pourciau contributed two points and four rebounds.
The Pioneers return home on Saturday when they host nationally-ranked UNC Pembroke for a 2 p.m. contest. TU continues a four-game stretch to open the season against teams which advanced to last year's NCAA Division II Tournament including a USC Aiken club which advanced to the Southeast Regional final.
