Lakewood, N.J.- The Georgian Court University men's basketball team suffered an 82-73 non-conference setback to visiting Pace University Thursday evening in the GCU Wellness Center, the second straight loss for the Lions (2-7).

In a first half that experienced five seperate stalemates in the first 10:21, GCU finally grabbed its first lead of the contest after a three-pointer from Hamilton Capellan scooted the Lions ahead, 20-17, at 9:42. After a sixth tie at 8:21 (22-22), the Setters (5-4) accelerated to a 41-32 surplus after a 19-10 sprint to close the stanza.

A Ryan Peterson (Fr.-Wethersfield, Conn.) three-ball 2:47 into the second frame provided Pace a game-high 15-point lead at 50-35. The Lions, once again, scurried to knot the affair at 62-all with 8:22 left, courtesy of a 27-12 run. With the score tied for the ninth time (73-73) in the contest at the 3:52 mark, the Setters ultimately turned on the afterburners and sealed the road victory with a 9-0 hammer to end the game.

Peterson, with his five three-pointers, provided a game-high 22 points (to go along with seven rebounds) for Pace. Shelton Mickell (Sr.-Queens, N.Y.) followed with 18 points. The duo of Victor Jusino (So.-Morris Plains, N.J.) and Bryan Rivers (So.-West Windsor, N.J.) netted 11 points apiece while Kyle Pearson (Sr.-Woodbridge, N.J.) dropped in 10 points and grabbed a game-high eight boards.

Keith Hughes contributed a team-leading 21 points for the Lions, which included three three-pointers and an 8-for-16 shooting effort. Michael Pierre, after pouring in 22 points Tuesday evening vs. University of the Sciences, proved to still have a hot hand has the sophomore collected 19 vs. the Setters. Juwuan Carter ended the evening with 15 points of his own while Capellan buried 11 points and dished a game-best six assists.

GCU takes a day off before returning to CACC competition this Saturday with a divisional road contest at Goldey-Beacom College.