Liberty (25-6, 13-5 CUSA) defeated Western Kentucky (17-14, 8-10), 90-61, on Saturday afternoon in the regular season finale to secure the CUSA regular season title and No. 1 seed in the conference tournament in Huntsville, Alabama next week. Coupled with Jacksonville State’s loss on Saturday to Kennesaw State, the Flames secure an outright regular season title. Liberty has won at least a share of six regular season (or division) titles over the past seven years, dating back to the program’s time in the ASUN. This one comes in the much tougher Conference USA, one of the top 10 leagues in the country.
“Our guys played really well today,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay. “We were really unselfish, 22 assists on 32 baskets is really good. Western had been playing fairly well. I just think we had an urgency about both ends of the floor. Our kids’ have a maturity about them. They have been able to go into different environments. This wasn’t Western’s best performance. I think a lot of it has to do with Senior Day, there are a lot of distractions that day. We just experienced that, not to make excuses. I think this will look different in Huntsville.”
The Flames scored the most points in a CUSA game it has scored in the program’s two seasons in the league. The 29-point margin of victory is also the most Liberty has ever had in a CUSA game.
The Hilltoppers took the first lead at 2-0 less than a minute into the contest, but from there the Flames would take control. Jayvon Maughmer hit two three pointers to get Liberty on the board. Then, Taelon Peter scored six straight as the Flames jumped out to the 12-4 lead.
WKU kept the margin at eight, trailing 18-10, before Liberty absolutely seized control of the game with a 23-3 run to grab a commanding 41-13 lead with 3:41 left in the first half. Liberty would coast to the easy win, not letting the Hilltoppers mount a comeback like they did in the first meeting between the two teams earlier this season.
The Flames shot 52.5% from the field for the game and made 16 of 34 (47.1%) from three-point range. Meanwhile, Liberty held Western Kentucky to 33.8% shooting from the field and 8 of 28 (28.6%) from three.
Maughmer finished with his best game in his one season with the Flames. He posted career highs in both points and rebounds with 21 and 15. He also had 6 assists. Maughmer was 8 of 11 from the floor and a perfect 5/5 from three, marking the most threes he has made in a game for the Flames. Peter also scored 21 to go along with 9 rebounds. He was 7 of 12 from the field and 4 of 8 from three.
“I think both of those guys are getting better on that end,” McKay said of Maughmer and Peter, two players who transferred to Liberty from Division II programs a year ago. “Jayvon’s been a main scorer for a really good program for four years. Now, he’s got a little bit of a backseat because we have some other guys. He’s someone you can rely on because of his experience.”
Zach Cleveland made 5 of 7 from the field with 12 points to go along with 8 assists and 6 rebounds. True freshman Brett Decker had his best game in conference play this season, scoring 16 points on 5 of 8 shooting from the field and 3 of 3 from three.. Colin Porter had 9 points as he made 3 of 6 from three.
The first three meetings between these two teams over the past couple of seasons were all very close contests that could have gone either way. Those three games were decided by a combined six points. It wouldn’t be the case for meeting number in the series, as the Flames controlled by more than 20 points most of the game.
The Flames improve to 23-0 on the season when holding its opponent to under 70 points. Only Houston has a better record when holding opponents under 70 points this season at 25-0. With 25 wins so far this season, the Flames have won the fourth most games in a single season in program history. All four of those seasons have come over the past seven seasons.
Liberty lost one of its top players just ahead of conference play in Isaiah Ihnen, who helped the Flames to an impressive 12-1 non-conference record that included wins over Kansas State, McNeese, and College of Charleston. Adjusting to playing without the 6’9″ Ihnen, the Flames lost its CUSA opener at home to Western Kentucky and opened conference play at 2-3 before righting the ship and turning things around.
Liberty is playing some of their best basketball down the stretch, finishing the regular season having won eight of their past nine and going 11-2 in its past 13 contests. The Flames also finish a very impressive 7-2 in road contests in conference play. This season, Liberty is 13-3 in games played away from Liberty Arena.
“This has been as hard as any championship that we’ve won since I’ve been here, just because of the level of competition, the quality of coaching and playing that exists in this league,” said McKay of the regular season title. “It was a long road to recovery. Then, we lose a game to Kennesaw that most would have said, they blew their chance. Our guys are just about the day at hand. I think that speaks to their level of character and commitment. It’s hard not to let that negativity infiltrate your heart, your mind, and your gratitude. It’s very meaningful.”
The Flames will now turn their attention to the CUSA Tournament which begins on Tuesday with the first round. Liberty gets a first round bye and will play on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET. against the winner of No. 8 seed UTEP and No. 9 seed Sam Houston.
