For the second straight game, Caleb Homesley put on an offensive clinic, leading the Flames with 30 points as Liberty defeated North Alabama 74-56. With the win, Liberty improves to 23-3 overall and 9-2 in ASUN play.
Coming off 25 points against Jacksonville Thursday night, Homesley picked up where he left off as he scored Liberty’s first 8 points, making two three pointers and both of his free throws. With North Alabama doubling every post entry, the Flames were easily able to pass the ball around and find open shooters. Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz got open for a triple of his own as Liberty raced out to an 11-1 lead.
It was a Caleb Homesley show. The Liberty senior guard and ASUN Preseason Player of the Year made his first 4 three pointers and scored 19 points by the 11 minute mark of the first half as the Flames took a 24-6 lead.
The only negative for the Flames in the first half was 7 turnovers, it kept North Alabama within striking distance, briefly. UNA would cut it to 11 at 24-13 before Liberty went on a 9-0 run to push the lead to 20 at 33-13. Liberty was shooting 71% at the under 8 media timeout.
Pacheco-Ortiz was also having a strong start offensively, as he made his first 3 shots and scored 8 early points. The Lions utilized full court pressure and attempted to speed Liberty up. It did cause the Flames to turn the ball over more than usual, but Liberty was just on fire shooting.
Homesley would finish the first half with 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting and 5-of-9 from three while making all 4 of his first half free throws. He also grabbed 6 rebounds as Liberty went into the halftime break with a 44-26 lead.
Caleb would get on the board quickly in the second half, scoring Liberty’s first bucket, as Liberty pushed its lead back to 20 points. Scottie James would add a basket and Pacheco-Ortiz added 5 points as the Flames led 53-30 at the first media timeout of the second half.
With Homesley getting all the attention, Pacheco-Ortiz quietly put together a very good game. His three-pointer at the 12:30 mark pushed him to 14 points as he made 5-of-6 field goals and 3-of-4 from three point range.
North Alabama wouldn’t go away as they cut the Liberty lead to 15 points at 60-45 with just over 8 minutes to play.
Homesley would tie his career-high of 30 points with a three pointer at the 6:41 mark. He scored 30 points once previously, doing so against Mississippi State in Liberty’s first round NCAA Tournament win last season. That’s where he would finish as he shot 10-of-18 from the field and 6-of-11 from 3.
Pacehco-Ortiz finished the game with 18 points as he made 7-of-8 field goals and 3-of-4 from three. James finished with 12 points and 6 rebounds.
Homesley and Darius McGhee led the team with 9 rebounds, McGhee tied his career high for boards.
Liberty would finish with a season high 16 turnovers, but the Flames head UNA to 33% shooting from the field.
The Flames have not trailed for a single second of the 160 minutes played since dropping consecutive games at North Florida and Stetson.
Liberty is off until next Saturday when the Flames host NJIT for the first of three straight home games, the final three regular season games at the Vines Center.
