The Liberty Flames (12-2, 0-1 CUSA) men’s basketball team is back in action on Saturday night at Liberty Arena against Middle Tennessee (10-4, 1-0).
Here’s what you need to know about the game:
Liberty vs Middle Tennessee How to Watch
6 p.m. ET | Saturday, Jan 4
Lynchburg, Virginia | Liberty Arena
TV: CBS Sports Network
Liberty vs Middle Tennessee Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty -9
Projected score: Liberty 73, Middle Tennessee 64
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Junior Guard | 5’10”, 170
6.9 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.4 rpg
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Senior Guard | 5’11”, 170
14.4 ppg, 43.8% from 3
#32 Jayvon Maughmer
Senior Guard | 6’6″, 205
9.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Junior Forward | 6’7″, 220
11.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.3 apg
#8 Owen Aquino
Junior Forward | 6’8″, 230
10.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.4 bpg
Liberty vs Middle Tennessee History
Series tied, 1-1
Liberty vs Middle Tennessee Storylines
LIBERTY LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK
It was a tough opener to conference play on Thursday night as Western Kentucky fought back from a 16-point deficit to upend the Flames. Bad news followed as Coach McKay announced following the game that forward Isaiah Ihnen would miss the rest of the season due to injury.
Liberty will now be looking to bounce back from the team’s first loss since Nov. 16 and avoid opening conference play 0-2 for a second straight season.
BLUE RAIDERS AIMING FOR TOP OF CUSA
It was a down year last season for Middle Tennessee as they struggled through injuries to a 14-19 overall record. They would finish in a tie for fourth place in conference play at 7-9 after starting 0-4.
7th year head coach Nick McDevitt has his team prepared to compete in the upper echelon of the league this season. All four of their losses so far this season have come against teams ranked in the top 140 of KenPom and they also have three top 150 wins.
The Blue Raiders opened league play Thursday night with a 73-69 win at FIU in Miami. MTSU will look at Saturday’s game against Liberty as a way to make a huge statement on the road early in conference play.
MTSU TO TEST FLAMES
The Blue Raiders have a talented roster led by 6’1″ senior guard Jestin Porter. He’s averaging 14.9 points per game and is the team leader.
Essam Mostafa is the inside presence for the Blue Raiders. The 6’9″, 250-pound big man spent three years at Coastal Carolina before transferring to TCU last year and now landing at Middle Tennessee. Originally from Egypt, Mostafa is averaging 12.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this season.
MTSU’s typical starting lineup also boasts 6’3″ senior Camryn Weston (11.9 ppg) Arizona State transfer 6’8″ forward Kamari Lands (9.2 ppg), and 6’6″ Justin Bufford (5.6 ppg).
Jlynn Counter, a 6’3″ senior transfer from IU Indianapolis, is averaging 11.0 points per game off the bench. McDevitt also turns to 6’11” sophomore Chris Loofe (4.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and 6’8″ freshman Torey Alston (6.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg).
