AIKEN, SC – Senior swingman Casey McMasters scored 18 points and freshman guard Re’mon Nelson recorded a game-clinching steal with one second left to allow USC Aiken to escape with a 58-55 win over Clayton State University, Saturday night (March 6) in the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.

USCA (18-10) advances to its third straight tournament title game, while Clayton State ends its season at 16-13.

Following McMasters for the Pacers was junior guard Byron Faison with 10 points, while senior Seth Leonard tallied six points and 10 rebounds.

Senior guard Robert Murry led Clayton State with 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting, while Brandon Robinson scored 13 and Timothy Downs 12.

The two squads slugged their way to a 26-26 deadlock at halftime. Neither team shot above 35 percent from the floor in the opening half.

USCA opened the second half with a 10-0 run, holding the Lakers scoreless for 6:06, and took a 36-26 lead. Clayton State responded with a 15-5 spurt to knot that game at 41-41 following a dunk by Robinson at the 7:08 mark.

A jump shot by Murry forged the game’s seventh tie at 48-48 with 3:37 left. The Pacers then ran off seven straight points to lead 55-48 with 1:30 remaining. Two USCA turnovers allowed Clayton State to close to within 55-54 on a layup by Downs with 24 ticks left. McMasters then made one of two free throws pushing the margin to 56-54. Downs missed a potential tying jumper, but Clayton State’s Eric Wilson rebounded the miss and was fouled. He made the first charity shot, but missed the second attempt leaving the Pacers with a 56-55 lead.

Faison was immediately fouled and he made both free throws with 4.8 seconds left. Downs quickly pushed the ball up the floor, but his pass to the wing for a potential game-tying three-pointer was intercepted by Nelson ending the game.

USCA outrebounded the Lakers 49-33.