Liberty (21-5, 9-4 CUSA) utilized a 10-0 run late in the second half to reclaim the lead and wouldn’t look back, picking up a 76-69 win at UTEP (17-8, 7-5).
“I have a lot of respect for UTEP,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay. “They present a ton of challenges and equations that you have to solve if you’re going to have a chance at the end. Uncharacteristically we turned it over 8 times in the first 8 minutes and then 2 times in the first 2 minutes out of the half. Once we reeled that in and started taking care of the ball better, kept them a little bit more out of transition. I’m telling you, this team has a belief and perseverance that is really mature and fun to be a part of.”
The Miners are one of the best teams in the country in forcing turnovers and that was on display in the opening minutes of the game. UTEP forced eight Liberty turnovers in the first 11-plus minutes of action which is just under what the Flames average per game as one of the best teams in the country in protecting the ball.
The Miners led the way for most of the first half and by as many as 11. The Flames would close the half on a 11-4 run to cut the deficit to three at 35-32. After having not trailed at halftime in a game through the first 24 games this season, Liberty has now trailed at half in each of the past two contests, having also trailed at halftime at New Mexico State on Thursday night.
The Flames would again struggle with turnovers to open the second half, having three in the first two minutes after halftime. It helped the Miners maintain the lead and they would push it to as many as nine in the second half with 12:42 to play. Liberty would not turn the ball over in the final 18 minutes to finish the game with the 11 turnovers, allowing the team to get back in the game, take the lead, and ultimately pull out the win.
After the Miners led by nine just about midway in the second half, Liberty went on a quick 7-0 spurt to cut the deficit to two. UTEP would answer back with five of their own to push the lead to seven. Just a few minutes later and Liberty would utilize a 10-0 run that began with four Owen Aquino points to tie the game for the first time since the 14:26 mark of the first half. The run continued on two Kaden Metheny three-pointers as he pushed the Flames into the lead at the 5:37 mark of the second half, the team’s first lead since the 16:28 mark of the first half.
Liberty was able to push its advantage to as many as nine down the stretch, but UTEP would continue to make a push. They got it down to three in the final minute before Metheny added the final dagger, a driving layup with 25 seconds remaining to push the lead back to double figures.
“Our guys have a belief,” said McKay. “This is a tough venue to win in against a quality opponent. I think you saw the selflessness of Zach Cleveland – 7 assists, 1 turnover. Then, he probably had 4-5 screening assists that don’t get marked up. He took advantage of the coverage. That’s the neat thing about coaching this group, they just find ways.”
Peter led the way for the Flames with 23 points on 9 of 17 shooting and 5 of 9 from three. He also recorded a double-double as he grabbed 10 rebounds. Owen Aquino also had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Kaden Metheny finished with 13 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds.
“They are as physical as there is in this league,” McKay said of the Miners. “That’s just our lot. That’s what happens in this league. Tune in Saturday afternoon basketball, when you are in a top 10 league, you are going to play against some physicality, it’s the way the game is, the athleticism and the strength is at an all-time high because guys are older, they’ve been in college longer, they are foregoing opportunities to play overseas in the pros to play in college. There is evidence of it every night out.”
The Flames shot 14 of 29 from three, good for 48.3% for the night. Liberty also won the rebounding battle, 39-31, aided by 8 offensive boards.
“Super proud of our guys,” McKay said. “They were throwing some haymakers and we easily could have folded and doubted and then kind of got in our feelings. We did the opposite.”
The win helps Liberty close out the two-game road trip a perfect 2-0. The Flames have now won four straight and seven out of eight and improve to 5-2 in road games in conference play.
The Flames also remain alone in second place in CUSA at 9-4, just one game behind Jacksonville State who is currently 10-3 and barely ahead of Middle Tennessee at 8-4. UTEP slips to fourth place in the league at 7-5.
Liberty only has one game next week as the Flames will not play again until this coming Saturday. The Flames play host to FIU at Liberty Arena on Feb. 22 with tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
