The Liberty Flames (11-4, 3-1) get a collection sweep with the 76-47 acquire about Kennesaw State (3-9, -4) Saturday evening from Liberty Arena in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty is now 2- on the second night time of again-to-backs in ASUN engage in.
“Our want every time out is to test to obtain the finest edition of ourselves,” Liberty head mentor Ritchie McKay said adhering to the activity. “I believed we touched a little little bit of that right now. I’m happy with our group. The unspoken is the players’ psychological exhaustion and fatigue. When you are frequently testing, when you are regularly faced with transform, I think it is taxing for the 18-22 yr old. It is taxing for us older people. What I’m definitely happy with, is our men have revealed a reaction and a maturity that I believe warrants a lot more option.”
Contrary to Friday’s matchup, the Flames and Owls were each able to get off to robust offensive commences Saturday evening inside of Liberty Arena. Kennesaw Point out held an early 5-2 guide right before Liberty responded with a 16-3 run to seize the lead in the opening minutes of the recreation.
In a reversal of from Friday’s game, it was Liberty who was ready to make an effect in the paint on Saturday. The Flames dominated in the paint in the very first fifty percent, 24-6, and also were able to seize 8 offensive rebounds to hold a 13-2 benefit in 2nd possibility details.
Liberty entered Saturday’s match primary the place in a few point industry objectives created, led by the country’s foremost 3 place marksman Darius McGhee having said that, the Flames did not make a three point area objective right until the 6:28 mark of the very first 50 %.
“Their match program was to run us off the a few,” claimed McKay. “We are a program that attempts to choose what we are presented. I believed we did a substantially better career in particular in the second half, just staying a very little little bit far more patient and discovering the ideal seem. When shots go in it seems to be like it is really good offense, but we test to measure the excellent of our shot not by the result but by the look by itself. I imagined we ended up obtaining fantastic seems both of those halves, just far more had been likely by the hoop in the next half.”
Kennesaw State’s freshman Chris Youngblood was in a position to make two triples in the closing 90 seconds of the opening fifty percent to keep the Owls inside of placing length at 36-30 entering the break. The Flames designed just one particular of 7 3 position field goal makes an attempt in the very first 50 percent.
Chris Parker and Blake Newton paced the staff in the very first fifty percent, and their two-person recreation was on display screen as very well. Parker led the group in the to start with half with 10 factors on 5 of 7 capturing from the industry though Preston additional 8 points, creating all a few of his discipline objectives and both equally of his cost-free throws. McGhee chipped in 7 details on 3 of 9 capturing and 1 of 3 from three position array.
Coming out of the locker area, Liberty would soar out to a 7- run that extended 12-2 as the Flames pushed the lead to past 20 factors. Shiloh Robinson took a shot to his appropriate hip/thigh and checked in midway through the next 50 % as freshman Micaiah Abii checked in for the first time on the afternoon. Shortly following checking in, Abii had a beautiful shot bogus from the prime of the crucial that received his defender off his toes as he went around him for what would have been a emphasize reel dunk but Abii misplaced regulate of the ball as he went to complete it. A couple belongings later, Abii would drill the a few-pointer from practically the actual same location.
The Flames would coastline to the get in the closing minutes thanks to a 25-6 edge in the 50 percent at position to force the direct in excess of 30. Liberty outscored the Owls 40-17 in the next half.
Darius McGhee led the staff in scoring with 12 points followed by Blake Preston who included 11 factors, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Chris Parker finished with 10 points and 3 helps.
Liberty ended the video game with just 3 turnovers on the evening. The Flames also had 14 offensive rebounds and outscored the Owls 19-5 in next chance factors. Liberty also dominated in details in the paint (40-14) and bench factors (33-15).
The Owls have now shed 29 straight Division I games and 21 consecutive ASUN online games as 2nd yr head mentor Amir Abdur-Rahim is 1-37 in his two seasons with the Owls against Division I opponents and has but to acquire a convention game.
Liberty is scheduled to journey to DeLand, Florida this coming 7 days to take on the Stetson Hatters Friday and Saturday. Stetson is at the moment 3-4 on the season and 1- in ASUN perform adhering to their win over North Alabama Friday night, 86-77. The Hatters and Lions are in action once again this afternoon.