The win is only the second in the Peach Belt Conference this season for the Pacers as they improve to 4-13 overall and 2-8 in the PBC. The Saints have now dropped two games in a row and fall to 9-8 overall and 6-6 in league play.

Blocker missed breaking his career scoring record by a single point as he led the Pacers with 21 points in the first half. The Saints were up in the first portion of the contest, jumping out to a 23-14 lead off of a fast break lay-up from junior guard Matt Causey. USCA fought back and tied the game 34-34 with 6:47 remaining in the first half. The Pacers quickly went up 42-36 and hit a 10-point lead with 57 seconds left in the half off of a three from freshman guard Kingsley Oguchi. North Georgia closed the half out with a lay-up from Causey to cut the lead to 59-49.

USCA was red-hot from the field and from behind the arc in the first half, shooting 54 percent (21-for-39) from the field and 63 percent (10-for-16) from behind the three point line. The Saints stayed in the game, shooting an equally impressive 59 percent (19-for-32) from the field and 80 percent (8-for-10) from the charity stripe.

The second half opened with the Pacers running out to a 16 point lead off of a three from Blocker with 17:47 remaining in the game. North Georgia continued to pick at the USCA lead and came to within nine points mid-way through the half. A pair of free throws from junior guard Buzz Wehunt put the Saints to within eight points with 8:03 to go. The Pacers quickly jumped back out to a double digit lead with yet another three from Blocker.

With a 102-92 lead and less than two minutes remaining in the game, USCA looked to have the game wrapped up, but a shooting foul and technical foul put Matt Causey and Mark Causey on the line for four consecutive free throws to bring North Georgia to within six points. A quick lay-up by Wehunt put the Saints to within four and forced the Pacers to make their free throws. Although USCA only shot 60 percent (20-for-33) during the game, they knocked them down when it counted to put the game away for good.

All of North Georgia’s starters scored in double digits and were led by junior forward Mark Trust who scored a season high 26 points and brought down seven rebounds. Matt Causey added 23 points and nine assists along with brother Mark who poured in 20 points. Senior guard Charles Mitchell scored 13 points and freshman forward Anthony Rowe scored his first double-double of his career with 10 points and a game high 11 rebounds. Wehunt also added 10 points coming off the bench for the Saints.

Blocker led all scorers with 39 points and added five steals and nine rebounds in his best performance this season. Oguchi scored 17 points for the Pacers along with sophomore guard Josh Poston who added 14 points in the win. Scoring 10 each in the game were sophomore guard Kenny Burr and sophomore guard Theo Oates.

Up next for North Georgia is a non-conference match against long time rival Piedmont College. The two teams will face off this Monday at 7:00 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium. USCA will challenge Georgia College & State University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at home in “The Courthouse”.