The 2-seed Liberty Flames (25-7, 15-3) and 3-seed Eastern Kentucky Colonels (20-12, 12-6) meet on Thursday night at Liberty Arena in the ASUN Tournament Semifinals.
This will be the third meeting between the teams this season, both picking up a win on their home floor. EKU defeated Liberty in their first meeting of the season back on Jan. 8 in Kentucky, 62-59. The Flames evened the score on Feb. 11 at Liberty Arena with an 83-73 victory over the Colonels.
No team has ever defeated the Flames twice during one season since the team has joined the ASUN. Liberty is 5-0 all-time against teams in the ASUN Tournament where the Flames had a lost a game to that team during the regular season. Liberty was 2-0 in such situations in 2019, defeating North Florida and Lipscomb. In the 2020 ASUN Tournament, the Flames defeated Stetson and Lipscomb, teams that had each defeated Liberty during the regular season. In 2020, Stetson had beaten the Flames during the regular season but were unable to duplicate the feat during the conference tournament.
EKU’s Devontae Blanton was named to the ASUN First-Team All-Conference award following a regular season where he averaged 16.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Tayshawn Comer earned a spot on the ASUN All-Freshman Team. He started all 31 games for the Colonels, while averaging 7.5 points, 3.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game during the regular season.
Here’s everything you need to know for Thursday’s Semifinal matchup:
How to Watch – Liberty Flames (25-7, 15-3) vs Eastern Kentucky (20-12, 12-6)
- Date: Thursday, Mar. 2, 2023
- Start Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN+
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Lynchburg): LFSN Radio (107.5 FM)
Odds and Statistics
- KenPom currently gives Liberty a 90 percent chance to win the game with a predicted score of 77-63.
- ESPN’s Basketball Power Index currently gives Liberty an 93.2 percent chance to win the game.
Previous Matchup
- Liberty leads the all-time series, 4-3.
- The teams split their two games this season with each winning on their home floor. EKU defeated Liberty, 62-59, in Richmond, Kentucky on Jan. 8. The Flames would pick up the win at Liberty Arena on Feb. 11, 83-73.
Probable Starters
Stat Leaders (2022-23 Season)
Liberty:
- Points: Darius McGhee – 22.5 PPG
- Rebounds: Blake Preston – 5.3 RPG
- Assists: Colin Porter – 3.8 APG
Ritchie McKay Press Conference Pre-Eastern Kentucky
