Liberty (2-0) travels to Kent State (2-0) to take on the Golden Flashes on Friday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm and will be televised on ESPN3.
This is a matchup of firsts for the Flames, as the two teams square off for the first time in program history. Friday’s game is also Liberty’s first road contest and first meeting with a Division I opponent this season.
“They’re a good team,” Scottie James said of Kent State. “We’re going to come out and just focus on working on what we can. Focus on imposing our will on defense and then our offense will come.”
McKay’s packline defense has been stellar the first two games of the season, allowing just 80 points combined which has set the school record for fewest points allowed in the first two games of the season albeit against non-Division I opponents.
“(The defense) will be tested at a much higher rate on Friday at Kent,” McKay said. “I’ve watched them a couple times now. They have a very good team. They went in to Cleveland State and beat them. They have really good guards and they have really good forwards, as well.”
Jalen Avery leads Kent State with 20 points per game. The 6’0″ senior guard also leads the team with 9 assists and 7 made 3 pointers. Avery is one of four guards that start, alongside 6’0″ junior Antonio Williams, 6’5″ junior Mitch Peterson, and 6’6″ junior CJ Williamson. 6’8″ junior forward Philip Whittington has also gotten two starts this season.
Four players average double figures in scoring for Kent State on the season. In addition to Avery, Williams is averaging 15 points per game, Peterson is averaging 11.5 points per game, and Williamson is averaging 11 points per game.
“I think we’re confident,” Caleb Homesley said. “I think we left off last season confident, as well. We’re very experienced. I think we have the guys that know what it takes to win on the road. It’s hard to do. I think that if we just stick to what we do, we’ll have a good chance.”
