The Liberty Flames (24-6, 12-5 CUSA) are back in action on Saturday against Western Kentucky (17-13, 8-9) to conclude conference play.
Here’s what you need to know about the game:
Liberty at Western Kentucky How to Watch
3 p.m. ET | Saturday, Mar 8
Bowling Green, Kentucky | Diddle Arena
TV: ESPN+
Liberty at Western Kentucky (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty -3
Projected score: Liberty 72, WKU 69
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Junior Guard | 5’10”, 170
9.1 ppg, 4.1 apg, 43.8% from 3
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Senior Guard | 5’11”, 170
13.1 ppg, 38.2% from 3
#32 Jayvon Maughmer
Senior Guard | 6’6″, 205
8.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Junior Forward | 6’7″, 220
10.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.0 apg
#8 Owen Aquino
Junior Forward | 6’8″, 230
9.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg
Liberty at Western Kentucky History
WKU leads the all-time series, 2-1, with all three meetings coming over the past two seasons as CUSA opponents.
Liberty at Western Kentucky Storylines
PLAYING FOR REGULAR SEASON TITLE
Entering the final day of the regular season, the path is clear for the Flames – win and clinch at least a share of the Conference USA regular season title. Liberty could also clinch at least a share of the regular season title and the 1-seed with a Jacksonville State loss to Kennesaw State on Saturday. It’s quite a remarkable turnaround the Flames have had from last year where the team finished 7-9 in conference play before making an exit in the CUSA Tournament quarterfinals against UTEP. Liberty then started this season at 2-3 in conference play, meaning the Flames were 9-13 in its first 22 CUSA games following back-to-back losses to Louisiana Tech and UTEP in mid-January.
Since those two losses, the Flames have gone 10-2 and now sit in perfect position entering Saturday and going into next week’s conference tournament in Huntsville. With a win Saturday, Liberty will clinch at least a share of the regular season (or division) title for the 6th time in 7 years dating back to the team’s time in the ASUN.
FLAMES LOOKING TO EVEN THE SEASON SERIES AGAINST WKU
It was more than two months ago when these two teams last met, playing on January 2nd at Liberty Arena in the first CUSA game of the season for both teams. The Flames jumped out to an early 11-2 lead and would lead by double figures most of the way. The lead would grow to as many as 16 early int h e 2nd half, but the Hilltoppers would not go away. They utilized a 17-3 run late to overcome a double digit deficit with 6 minutes remaining to pick up the road win. Kaden Metheny had a clean look from three at the buzzer that would have won the game that missed. Both teams had four players score in double figures as WKU was led by Julius Thedford’s 18 points. Zach Cleveland paced the Flames with 18 points and 9 rebounds while Metheny scored 17.
“Western Kentucky, they beat us,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay after the Flames’ win over Middle Tennessee on Thursday night. “They have the only opportunity to sweep us in our league. We’ve got to rest up and see if we can’t go at it again.”
Liberty is also looking for its first ever win at Diddle Arena, after falling to the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green last January, 70-68, to open CUSA play.
WKU’S SEEDING SCENARIOS
The Hilltoppers still have a lot to play for themselves. While not in the hunt for a regular season title, the defending CUSA champs are currently just one game behind Kennesaw State for 5th place in the conference and tied with Louisiana Tech. WKU is hoping to avoid the play-in round where teams 7-10 have to play Tuesday night. Getting into the top six is important so you only have to win three games to win the conference tournament as opposed to four.
