USC Aiken men's basketball opens NCAA Tournament against Catawba
Mar. 13—A third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance is going to have a slightly different feel for the USC Aiken men's basketball team.
These Pacers are no newcomers to the big dance, but this weekend they head to the Southeast Region Tournament with momentum.
They're carrying with them the good vibes from winning the Peach Belt Conference Tournament after back-to-back years of regular-season conference titles followed by early departures from the league tournament.
USCA (23-8) has won six consecutive games heading into Saturday's 2:30 p.m. tip-off against No. 7 seed Catawba (18-12) at Columbus State, site of the Southeast Region and the same court where USCA won the PBC tourney.
The teams have history, albeit not very recent. They played way back on Nov. 10, with USCA escaping with an 81-79 win at the Convocation Center, and the Pacers beat the Indians in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
That November meeting, however, was marked by big-time performances by players who have since earned all-conference recognition.
Jalen McCoy, a first-team All-PBC pick and USCA's all-time leading scorer, had a team-high 18 points in that game, third-team all-PBC pick Davion Cunningham had nine points and six steals in just his second game and first start as a Pacer, and PBC Defensive Player of the Year Simeon German had 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
Catawba countered with Kris Robinson, a second-team All-South Atlantic Conference selection who had 19 points, and also got 12 points and nine rebounds from third-team All-SAC pick Nick Walker.
McCoy leads a trio of double-digit Pacer scorers, averaging a team-best 19.9 points per game and adding six rebounds a night. Cunningham is scoring 14.9 per game with 5.6 boards, and Rhyjon Blackwell averages 12.9 points per game. German pulls down 8.3 rebounds per game to go with his 7.5 points, and he's averaging just under two blocks per game.
Catawba also has three players averaging 10 or more points per game. Robinson leads the way at 15.1 points and is the Indians' designated 3-point bomber, averaging 8.1 attempts per game. Walker is averaging 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds, and Ibra Athie averages 10.4 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds.
The teams took different routes to make their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Catawba was on the outside looking in once the March 2 region rankings were released after finishing sixth in the SAC during the regular season, but a run to the tournament semifinals was just enough to crack the top eight.
USCA was going to the dance regardless — it was just a matter of where the Pacers would be seeded. They were No. 3 in the final region rankings, and now No. 24 in the final regular-season national poll, then moved up a spot after beating Flagler, North Georgia and USC Beaufort in succession to bring home the PBC Tournament title.
It wasn't enough to leapfrog Columbus State, which swept USCA on its way to the PBC's regular-season title, but moving up to the No. 2 seed with a conference tournament title feels a lot better than settling for a lesser seed after a disappointing loss.
Saturday's other Southeast Region quarterfinals are: No. 3 seed Lenoir-Rhyne vs. No. 6 Augusta at noon, No. 1 Columbus State vs. No. 8 Carson-Newman at 5 p.m. and No. 4 Lincoln Memorial vs. No. 5 UNC Pembroke at 7:30 p.m.
The semifinals are scheduled for Sunday evening, and the region final is Monday night — with the winner moving on to the Elite Eight.
-
Pacers advance to second round of NCAA Tournament
Mar. 15—COLUMBUS, Ga. — The No. 24 and second-seeded USC Aiken men's basketball team picked up its seventh consecutive victory, besting seventh-seeded Catawba 80-71 Saturday afternoon. The Pacers ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Gottlieb on USC's NCAA tourney draw: 'I don't like being disrespected'
Lindsay Gottlieb acknowledged it herself, that she's not usually so "agitated," but she couldn't hide those feelings Sunday as her USC women's basketball team learned its NCAA tournament draw. The ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
2025 BIg Ten Tournament: Purdue 76, USC 71: Postgame Video
Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) steals the ball from USC Trojans guard Wesley Yates III (6) Thursday, March 13, 2025, during the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament game at Gainbridge ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
UConn men’s basketball earns No. 8 seed in West Region, to meet Oklahoma in NCAA Tournament first round
STORRS – The path to a third consecutive NCAA Tournament title is a bit overgrown and rugged, having not been walked in over half a century. John Wooden’s UCLA teams won seven national ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Fayetteville State men's basketball wins dramatic NCAA Tournament opener in overtime
Fayetteville State men's basketball made history with its first-ever NCAA D2 Tournament win, beating Fairmont State in OT. Here's how it happened.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Duke leads the USA TODAY Sports men's college basketball poll entering the NCAA Tournament
Conference tournaments are in the books, and Duke is the No. 1 team in the USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll entering the NCAA Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
USC's upset bid falls frustratingly short in season-ending loss to Purdue
After leading for a good portion of the game, USC men's basketball can't hold on in the final minute, losing 76-71 to Purdue in the Big Ten tournament.Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Oregon basketball vs. Liberty in men's NCAA Tournament: March Madness 'never gets old'
It’s Oregon basketball vs. Liberty in March Madness to open its NCAA Tournament men’s bracket. Here’s what Oregon said about the first-round game.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday will be quiet for UCF men's basketball team
The 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed Sunday on CBS. The UCF Knights will not be in it.Yahoo Sports - 3d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Richland County Softball Preseason Power Poll provides insight into upcoming 2025 season
Welcome to the 2025 high school softball season.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
This 160-pound PIAA champion is Bucks County boys Wrestler of Year after undefeated season
Quakertown senior Collin Gaj, a two-time PIAA Class 3A high school wrestling champion, finished the season 44-0Yahoo Sports - 20m -
National power Faith Christian is Bucks County's high school wrestling Team of the Year
Thanks to 10 PIAA Class 2A medalists, including four state champions, Faith Christian earns Bucks County Team of Year honorsYahoo Sports - 24m -
Palhinha has no intention to leave Bayern Munich
Midfielder João Palhinha is not considering a move away from Bayern Munich after a difficult start at the Bundesliga leaders. "The rumours on a farewell don't interest me. I will do everything to ...Yahoo Sports - 26m -
Commanders WR Deebo Samuel picks his number and you can buy his jersey now
Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel has decided on a number. You can order his jersey. .Yahoo Sports - 28m
More in Sports
-
Formula 1 in 2025: How to watch the Chinese Grand Prix on TV and what to know
Here is a guide that tells you everything you need to know about Sunday's Chinese Grand PrixABC News - 17m -
Formula 1 in 2025: How to watch the Chinese Grand Prix on TV and what to know
Here is a guide that tells you everything you need to know about Sunday's Chinese Grand PrixABC News - 17m -
Richland County Softball Preseason Power Poll provides insight into upcoming 2025 season
Welcome to the 2025 high school softball season.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
This 160-pound PIAA champion is Bucks County boys Wrestler of Year after undefeated season
Quakertown senior Collin Gaj, a two-time PIAA Class 3A high school wrestling champion, finished the season 44-0Yahoo Sports - 20m -
National power Faith Christian is Bucks County's high school wrestling Team of the Year
Thanks to 10 PIAA Class 2A medalists, including four state champions, Faith Christian earns Bucks County Team of Year honorsYahoo Sports - 24m