For the third time this season, a Liberty game needed overtime to decide the outcome. This time, the Flames fall at Radford, 59-57. With the loss, LU is now 3-3 in Big South play, and the Highlanders move to 5-1.
With the Flames trailing by 5 and just 2:30 left in regulation, true freshman Elijah Cuffee drilled a 3 pointer. Lovell Cabbil then blocked Radford’s layup, grabbed the rebound, and a few seconds later hit a 3 pointer to give Liberty the 1 point lead at 47-46 with 1:52 left.
The Highlanders responded with 4 straight points to regain the lead at 50-47. After both teams added 2 points, Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz nailed a 23 footer to tie the game with 4 seconds left. Radford’s Carlik Jones’ long 3 pointer at the buzzer was short, and the game went to overtime.
In the extra period, with Liberty trailing by 2, the Highlanders missed their 2nd free throw attempt. Scottie James got the rebound and got the ball to Georgie whose running 2-pointer would miss as time expired.
The loss gives the Flames consecutive regular season Big South losses for the first time since February 2016.
Three Liberty players reach double figures, led by Lovell Cabbil’s 14 points. The junior guard also added 9 rebounds. Ryan Kemrite and Pacheco-Ortiz each added 11 points, while Kemrite had 4 rebounds and Georgie had 4 assists.
Caleb Homesley, who missed the end of the Winthrop game and all of Friday night’s action against Longwood, finished with 5 points and 7 rebounds in 17 minutes. Elijah Cuffee chipped in 7 points.
Liberty returns to action Thursday night at High Point. The Panthers are also 3-3 in Big South play.
