Small businesses continued turning to the U.S. Small Business Administration for commercial credit in record numbers through the first three quarters of FY 2005, reflecting their confidence in the U.S. economy and the stability of the SBAloan program that backs their loans.

Small businesses secured SBA backing under the agency's flagship 7(a) program for 71,131 loans through the first nine months of the fiscal year, a 21 percent increase over the same period a year ago and a 49 percent increase over the same period two years ago.

The loans made so far this year amount to $11.1 billion, 19.5 percent more than in the same period last year, and on a clear pace for a record-setting year for the program.

END RESULT
On the verge of a blowout, the Pacers played their way into another close game. Fortunately, Jermaine O'Neal kept it from getting too close. O'Neal capped a 29-point night by scoring the Pacers' final six points as Indiana held off a fourth-quarter charge by the visiting Bobcats Wednesday night in Conseco Fieldhouse.

WHAT IT MEANS
The Pacers improved to 23-25 overall, 12-11 at home and 3-0 against Charlotte. The Bobcats lost for the fourth time in a row. They're 2-22 on the road and have lost 21 of their last 24 overall.

TURNING POINT
After dominating the first half, building a lead as large as 22 points, the Pacers had a comfortable 61-43 advantage early in the third quarter when Charlotte put together a 16-4 run that cut the lead to 65-59. Pacers Tickets. Fred Jones and the second unit helped halt that surge. Jones scored seven points in a 21-9 run spanning the third and fourth quarters that pushed the lead back to 86-71 with 8:16 remaining.

Indiana promptly went more than 5 minutes without scoring as Charlotte scored eight in a row to close to 86-79, but Jeff Foster snuck inside for a layup and O'Neal then took over, scoring twice in a row from the post to make it 92-83, then closing out the game with a dunk.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The Pacers shot. 486 overall and held a 39-38 advantage on the boards. O'Neal's 29 points led the way and he added 10 points and one blocked shot, but committed a team-high five turnovers. Stephen Jackson scored 22 on 7-of-14 shooting, adding seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Jones scored 12 off the bench. Anthony Johnson had seven assists, Austin Croshere seven rebounds and rookie David Harrison had an impact with nine points and four rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench.

Ely led the Bobcats with 20 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, adding two blocks. Primoz Brezec had a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double against his former team. Brevin Knight scored 14 with six assists and two steals. Steve Smith scored 12, while Jason Hart and Jason Kapono had 10 apiece off the bench. The Bobcats shot .410 overall and made 6-of-10 from the arc.

NOTEWORTHY

• Coach Rick Carlisle and Reggie Miller picked up technical fouls for the Pacers. Charlotte Coach Bernie Bickerstaff also was whistled.
• Johnson started his fifth consecutive game at point guard with Jamaal Tinsley out with a bruised left foot.
• Scot Pollard missed the game with a sore lower back.
• Charlotte was without guard Kareem Rush (back spasms).

"We had a record year for this loan program a year ago, and we're going to set another record in 2005," said SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto. "It tells us that the critics are wrong, that small businesses are confident enough to invest in the future of the American economy, and that this program is here to help them do it. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of the self-funded footing on which the President has placed the loan program, and the confidence that lenders have in its stability. I am very pleased with this performance so far this year."

The gains are also reflected in the SBA's Certified Development Company, or 504, loan program. Through the first nine months of the fiscal year, the 504 program had issued 6,434 loans worth $3.44 billion, more than 6 percent ahead of the same period a year ago, when the program had produced 6,058 loans for $2.88 billion.

The budget for the current year makes more than $21 billion available to small businesses through the two loan programs, including $16 billion in small business lending under the 7(a) program and $5 billion under the 504 program.

For information on applying for an SBA loan, visit the SBA's extensive Web site