The Liberty Flames (20-5, 8-4 CUSA) are back in action on Saturday against UTEP (17-7, 7-4) to continue conference play.
Here’s what you need to know about the game:
Liberty at UTEP How to Watch
9 p.m. ET | Saturday, Feb 15
El Paso, Texas | Don Haskins Center
TV: ESPN+
Liberty at UTEP Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty -3
Projected score: Liberty 69, UTEP 66
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Junior Guard | 5’10”, 170
9.2 ppg, 4.2 apg, 45.2% from 3
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Senior Guard | 5’11”, 170
13.1 ppg, 37.9% from 3
#32 Jayvon Maughmer
Senior Guard | 6’6″, 205
8.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Junior Forward | 6’7″, 220
11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 4.8 apg
#8 Owen Aquino
Junior Forward | 6’8″, 230
9.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.1 bpg
Liberty vs UTEP History
UTEP leads, 3-1, including a 72-70 win at Liberty Arena on Jan. 16 earlier this season.
Liberty vs UTEP Storylines
MINERS HAVE HAD LIBERTY’S NUMBER
UTEP seems to have Liberty’s number since the Flames joined Conference USA. Liberty is 1-3 against the Miners over these past two seasons, having dropped three straight.
The Flames got the first win in the series in El Paso, 67-65, on Feb. 3, 2024. Since then, it has been all the Miners. They came into Liberty Arena and beat the Flames, 67-51, last March. Then, as we all remember, UTEP closed on a 24-3 run to knock off Liberty in the CUSA Tournament quarterfinals in Huntsville to end the Flames season last year.
“Joe (Golding) does a really good job,” Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay said. They’ve got a unique defensive style, gives us a little bit of problems on occasion, a little bit of issue. We will watch the film. Won’t do much (Friday) because the day in between (two games) and try to implement our game plan.”
Just less than a month ago, UTEP won its second straight game at Liberty Arena, defeating the Flames, 72-70, on January 16. In that game, Taelon Peter scored 20 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Miners had four in double figures including Ahamad Bynum who hit the game winner to break the tie in the closing seconds.
LOOKING TO CONTINUE ROAD SUCCESS
Liberty has been really good away from home this season. The Flames have always been tough to beat at Liberty Arena, and that trend has continued this season even in spite of the two setbacks at home in conference play. Liberty is currently 10-2 on their home floor this season.
But a little surprising is how good the Flames have been away from home. After going just 1-7 on the road in conference play last season, the Flames have raced out to a 4-2 mark on the road in conference play. On the season, Liberty is 6-2 in true road games and 10-3 when factoring in neutral site games.
Liberty’s 4-2 record in road games during conference play is the best in the league. The next best road record is UTEP who is 3-2 away from home in conference play.
FLAMES 1-GAME OUT OF 1ST PLACE
Just to show how deep and balanced CUSA is this season, 9-2 and first place Jacksonville State was an underdog at 1-10 Sam Houston on Thursday night. The Bearkats were able to halt their seven game losing streak to knock off the Gamecocks, 66-61.
Coupled with Liberty’s win over New Mexico State and that Jax State loss, the Flames are now just one game behind the Gamecocks for first place. Jax State will likely be a slight underdog again on Saturday as they play at Louisiana Tech. The Flames will want to at least hold serve with the Gamecocks on Saturday if not even being able to gain a game and end the day in a first place tie.
Make sure you have Thursday, Feb. 27 circled on your calendar. That’s when Jacksonville State visits Lynchburg for the rematch. It’s looking like that game will go a long way in determining who wins the CUSA regular season title.
