Liberty (20-9, 11-3) vs. FGCU (18-10, 8-6)
Lynchburg, Virginia – Liberty Arena (Capacity: 4,000)
Wednesday, Feb. 23, 7:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Last Meeting: Liberty defeated FGCU, 78-75, on Jan. 15, 2022
Series History: Liberty leads 5-0
Projected LU Starters:
2 Darius McGhee (Sr., 5-9, 150) – 23.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.6 apg
23 Joseph Venzant (Fr., 6-3, 170) – 4.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.6 apg
20 Keegan McDowell (R-Sr., 6-6, 180) – 10.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 0.8 apg
22 Kyle Rode (Jr., 6-7, 220) – 8.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.3 apg
33 Shiloh Robinson (R-Jr., 6-7, 200) – 10.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 apg
Projected FGCU Starters:
5 Tavian Dunn-Martin (Sr., 5-8, 155) – 20.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 6.3 apg
4 Cyrus Largie (Jr., 6-3, 204) – 10.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.5 apg
2 Caleb Catto (Sr., 6-5, 182) – 8.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.7 apg
10 Zach Anderson (So., 6-7, 205) – 4.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.9 apg
21 Kevin Samuel (Sr., 6-11, 255) – 11.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 1.1 apg
PREVIEW
The Flames welcome FGCU into Liberty Arena for the first time ever. The two ASUN programs didn’t play during Liberty’s first season in the new arena in 2020-21 due to COVID cancellations. Now, they meet in Lynchburg just over a month since the two teams last played. Liberty won that game, 78-75, in Fort Meyers, Florida thanks to a career-high 48 points from Darius McGhee.
Since that game, the Eagles have won 7 out of 10 games, including three wins in overtime. Their three losses during that time have all come by single digits as head coach Michael Fly has been able to get FGCU back on the right track after a slow start to conference play.
Point guard Tavian Dunn-Martin is one of the best scoring guards in the ASUN, but Liberty was able to hold him in check last time out as freshman guard Joseph Venzant was the primary defender on Dunn-Martin. He scored 11 points in the loss to Liberty last month, making just two of 17 field goal attempts.
Liberty was also able to keep FGCU’s big man, Kevin Samuel, in check as he scored just 8 points in the previous meeting. Samuel was able to haul in 15 rebounds though. Caleb Catto scored 23 points while making five of six from three in the loss.
KENPOM PREDICTION
Liberty 79, FGCU 68
