The Liberty Flames (21-5, 9-4 CUSA) are back in action on Saturday against FIU (8-18, 2-11) to continue conference play.
Here’s what you need to know about the game:
Liberty vs FIU How to Watch
2 p.m. ET | Saturday, Feb 22
Lynchburg, Virginia | Liberty Arena
TV: ESPN+
Liberty vs FIU Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty -17
Projected score: Liberty 76, FIU 59
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Junior Guard | 5’10”, 170
9.1 ppg, 4.2 apg, 44.4% from 3
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Senior Guard | 5’11”, 170
13.1 ppg, 38.5% from 3
#32 Jayvon Maughmer
Senior Guard | 6’6″, 205
8.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Junior Forward | 6’7″, 220
11.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.9 apg
#8 Owen Aquino
Junior Forward | 6’8″, 230
9.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 bpg
Liberty vs FIU History
The all-time series is now tied at 3. The teams split last year’s series, with each team winning on their home floor. Liberty defeated the Panthers, 82-59, in Miami on Jan. 25.
Liberty vs FIU Storylines
IT’S BEEN A TOUGH SEASON FOR FIU
The Panthers have struggled all season, but especially in conference play. After opening CUSA play with a home split against Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky, FIU has since last 10 out of 11 games with the only win coming back on Feb. 6 at home against Sam Houston, an 85-82 win in overtime.
FIU has lost their last three games all by double figures, including a 76-48 setback on Saturday at New Mexico State. The Panthers are destined for a first-round play-in game in the CUSA Tournament and motivation could be an issue down the stretch in regular season play.
TEMPO BATTLE
Under seventh year head coach Jeremy Ballard, the Panthers like to play with tempo and speed the game up. They currently rank 81st in the country in adjusted tempo, compared to Liberty’s 283.
Ballard comes from the Shaka Smart coaching tree where he was an assistant under Smart at VCU from 2012-15. He then returned to Richmond as an assistant at VCU under another of Smart’s protege, Mike Rhoades, in 2017 for one season before accepting the head coaching position at FIU. Like Smart, Ballard’s teams typically like to use some full court pressure, trapping the ball handler to force teams to speed up.
Ballard and his Panthers do have some length at their disposal to help create havoc for the opposition. 6’6″ junior Jayden Brewer is currently leading the team with 14.7 points per game. North Florida transfer Jonathan Aybar, who has been at FIU the past two seasons, is a 6’9″ forward who is averaging 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. 6’11” junior Vianney Salatchoum is averaging 10.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Originally from Cameroon, Salatchoum is a JUCO transfer that joined FIU this season. Another JUCO transfer, 6’2″ junior guard Asim Jones is averaging 9.7 points per game. 6’3″ junior guard Dashon Gittens is averaging 8.0 points per game.
FLAMES LOOKING TO STAY HOT
Since dropping two straight and three out of five in early to mid-January, Liberty has found their mojo and is playing some of their best basketball of the season.
The Flames have won four straight and seven out of eight dating back to that two-game skid against Louisiana Tech and UTEP. this run has included a win at FIU and four total road wins. Liberty will be looking to keep that hot play and winning streak alive beginning Saturday FIU, the first of three straight home games. The Flames will also have to avoid looking ahead to Thursday night’s showdown against Jacksonville State when first place in the conference will be on the line.