Liberty remains undefeated thanks to a 66-54 win over Towson in the first round of the DC Holiday Hoops Fest Tournament to improve to 13-0. With the win, the Flames advanced to the championship game where they will play Akron on Saturday afternoon.
It was a game of runs in the first half with both teams going on runs of at least nine points. The Towson Tigers took a lead at the break after going on a 12-2 run to take the 30-25 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, it was Liberty’s defense, as usual, which led the way. The Flames held Towson scoreless for more than five minutes as the team went on an 11-0 run to take the lead. A 16-3 run later would push the lead into double figures.
Towson was held to 6-of-20 shooting from behind the three-point line and just 43% from the free throw line.
Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz led the Flames with 16 points while Darius McGhee and Scottie James each added 12. James led the team with 6 rebounds while McGhee and Caleb Homesley each had 5 boards.
Homesley struggled from the field though, finishing with just 3 points on 1-of-7 shooting, with all of his attempts coming from three point range.
Elijah Cuffee and Myo Baxter-Bell each added 8 points.
“Our struggles were evident (in the first half), and I told the guys in the locker room that our words of positivity and belief and inspiring words to one another was led by Georgie, Scottie, Myo and Caleb,” Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay said. “To get back to form in the second half really impressed me. We have to expect to get everyone’s best shot because our name is still on the undefeated map and we anticipated that. Towson plays really hard and is very well-coached. We knew what was at stake and I am just glad we got back to our identity.”
Liberty returns to action Saturday afternoon from Washington, D.C. looking for another championship as the Flames take on Akron at 3:30.
