On senior day, Liberty knocked off the High Point Panthers, 65-45. With the win, the Flames improve their record to 18-13 overall and 9-9 in Big South play as they conclude the regular season portion of their schedule. Liberty finishes tied for 5th, and by virtue of tiebreakers claim the 5th seed in next week’s Big South Tournament.
All-time leading three point shooter Ryan Kemrite had 9 points on senior day and now has a fiance as he proposed to Liberty women’s volleyball player Michelle Melendez prior to the game.
The Flames were led by Scottie James with 21 points and 7 rebounds. The redshirt-sophomore was 9/11 from the floor and added 4 blocks. Elijah Cuffee finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
Lovell Cabbil did not play as Coach McKay said he suffered a right knee injury during Friday’s practice. It’s the same knee that he has been suffering with all season including missing two games earlier this season.
Caleb Homesley added 9 points and 5 rebounds, Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz had 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Keegan McDowell had 6 points and 3 rebounds.
Liberty’s only other senior, Zach Farquhar, did not record any statistics in two minutes.
As a 5 seed, the Flames get a first round bye to the quarterfinals of the Big South Tournament where they will face the 4-seed Campbell Camels. Liberty is 0-2 this season against the Camels, who finished 10-8 in league play. The game will be the nightcap of 4 games played next Thursday, March 1st with an approximate tip set for 9:30. All quarterfinal games will be televised on ESPN3.
The winner will face the winner of 1-seed and host UNC Asheville and the victor of Tuesday’s 8/9 matchup on Friday at 8:30.
