For the first time in school history, the Liberty men’s basketball team has opened the season at 7-0 following the team’s 71-59 win over Rice. With the win, the Flames move to the championship game of the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase.
ASUN Preseason Player of the Year Caleb Homesley was not in uniform as he missed his 2nd of 3 games. He only played 6 minutes against Morgan State on Friday. Coach McKay said that Caleb tweaked something in practice prior to the Navy game earlier this week.
The Flames went on a 6-0 run after Rice took the early 3-0 lead. Liberty’s Kyle Rode, making his second career start, hit a couple of three-pointers in the opening minutes as he picked up where he left off from Friday against Morgan State when he scored 17 points.
The lead exchanged hands several times throughout the middle of the first half until Liberty went on an 10-0 run to take a 27-18 lead. The run was sparked by two Darius McGhee three-pointers. The sophomore guard has been shooting at a very good clip from deep in the early stages of the season.
Scottie James and Myo Baxter-Bell got a lot of time in the lineup together as McKay opted to go with a bigger lineup than usual. The tandem had a good first half, as Scottie had 9 first half points and Myo chipped in 8.
Seven Flames got in the scoring column in the first half led by Scottie James who had 9 points and 7 rebounds. Myo Baxter-Bell added 8 points as he made all 4 of his field goal attempts. McGhee and Rode had 6 points a piece, as they each connected on 2-of-4 three point attempts.
Liberty continued its hot stretch as the Flames extended the lead to 42-20 as the team opened with a quick 7-0 burst, capped by an Elijah Cuffee three pointer.
From there, the Flames would maintain the lead, pushing it to as much as 25. The Owls would cut into the lead as the game went, cutting it to single digits at one point before the Flames responded to hold on to the win.
Rode and Baxter-Bell led the team in scoring with 14 points while Scottie James added 13 points and 12 rebounds. Darius McGhee added 12 points.
Liberty advances to the championship game of the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase which will be played on Sunday night at 8 p.m. The Flames will play the winner of Missouri-Kansas City and East Carolina.
