The North Georgia College & State University men's basketball team dropped their sixth straight on Saturday evening, falling 77-71 at 19th-ranked USC Aiken in Aiken, South Carolina.

The Pacers (13-3, 7-1 Peach Belt Conference), ranked No. 19 in the latest NABC Division-II Top 25 Poll, bounced back from their first conference loss and sit atop the league's Eastern Division standings.

The Saints (7-11, 2-5) continue to struggle in conference action, losing five straight league games since opening with two wins to start Peach Belt Conference play.

North Georgia seemed to be in control with 4:15 remaining when Clarence Tillman connected on a pair of free throws to give the Saints a five-point lead, but the Pacers had the last laugh, answering with a 13-0 run to regain the lead and hold off the upset bid by the Saints.

The Pacers' run was fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers in a 15 second span to quickly erase North Georgia's five-point lead and give USC Aiken all the momentum and a lead they would never relinquish.

The Saints managed to connect on just one field goal over the final five minutes of action.

Tillman led the North Georgia offense once again, scoring 21 points with three assists. He was also active on the defensive side of the ball tallying a game-high five steals.