Playing Lipscomb just one day after falling to the Bisons on Friday afternoon, the Liberty Flames (9-4, 1-1) got back in the win column thanks to a big night from Darius McGhee who led the team with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. The Flames won the game, 66-50, as Lipscomb falls to 6-6 overall and 1-1 in ASUN play.
After trailing for all 20 minutes and by as 24 on Friday, Liberty wasted no time taking the first lead of the game on Saturday evening on a Kyle Rode layup less than 2 minutes into the game. Both teams struggled shooting from the field in the opening minutes, making just 1 of 4 field goals. The Bisons went 7:16 without a field goal making as the Flames took control of the game midway through the first half.
Blake Preston, coming off his second career double double on Friday, drew two fouls on ASUN Preseason Player of the Year Ahsan Asadullah in the first 5 minutes of the game as the big man did not return to the floor in the first half. After he checked out, true freshman Micaiah Abii checked in and provided several solid minutes of play. He banged home a three pointer and had two blocks on the defensive end of the floor.
True freshman Drake Dobbs also provided a nice boost off the bench as he was able to penetrate the Lipscomb defense on several possessions. His three pointer gave the Flames a 15-10 lead at the under 8 media timeout.
Darius McGhee began to heat up as he made a three pointer and got in the paint for a couple of buckets. That three started an avalanche by the Flames as Keegan McDowell, Chris Parker, and Kyle Rode all got in on the action. Rode led the team in the first half with 9 points, including a three pointer and a bucket in the final seconds of the first half as Liberty took a 30-20 lead into intermission.
Lipscomb was held to 7 of 23 shooting in the first half while the Flames shot 43% from the field and 6 of 14 from three point range.
The Flames would come out of the locker room with guns blazing looking to put the Bisons on their heels. Darius McGhee would spearhead the efforts with 8 points in the first 3:16 of the second half, making two three pointers. Liberty opened the second period making its first five field goal attempts, including three triples as the Flames’ lead grew to 43-22.
The only offense Lipscomb had in the early parts of the second half came from Asadullah. He scored 11 of the first 16 points for the Bisons in the second half after going scoreless in the opening half as he attempted to keep Lipscomb within striking distance. Lipscomb utilized a 7-0 scoring run to cut the lead 12 before Dobbs ended the run with a finish at the rim.
McGhee would then push the game out of reach for the Bisons as he scored 5 points and Kyle Rode made a triple to push the lead back to 20 entering the stretch run. The Flames would coast to the final victory.
Rode joined McGhee in double figures with 12 points and 3 rebounds as he made 5 of 7 from the field and 2 of 4 from three point range. Chris Parker added 8 points and 5 assists while Elijah Cuffee had 7 points and 4 rebounds. Preston finished with 4 points and 9 rebounds. Drake Dobbs had perhaps the best game of his early career with 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. Abii added 3 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks.
Liberty was supposed to host Florida Gulf Coast this coming Friday and Saturday at Liberty Arena, but the games were postponed due to positive COVID cases with the Eagles. The Flames next scheduled games are currently at Stetson on January 15 and 16.
