Liberty (16-11, 5-7 CUSA) returns home and hopes to get back in the win column when it plays against New Mexico State (11-17, 5-8) on Thursday night in a Conference USA game.
Here’s what you need to know about the game:
How to Watch
9:00 p.m. ET | Thursday, February 29
Lynchburg, VA | Liberty Arena
TV: CBS Sports Network
Liberty vs New Mexico State Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty -13
Projected score: Liberty 75, New Mexico State 62
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Sophomore Guard | 5’9″, 170
8.0 ppg, 3.9 apg
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Junior Guard | 5’10”, 170
13.5 ppg, 2.7 apg, 3.4 rpg
#23 Joseph Venzant
Junior Guard | 6’3″, 200
5.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg
#22 Kyle Rode
R-Senior Forward | 6’7″, 220
13.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.4 apg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Sophomore Forward | 6’7″, 215
12.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.9 apg
Liberty vs New Mexico State History
The Aggies lead the series, 1-0, with the only prior meeting coming earlier this season, a 79-73 overtime NMSU win on Feb. 1 in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Liberty vs New Mexico State Storylines
HEATED REMATCH?
In the meeting earlier this month, NMSU’s Robert Carpenter punched Liberty’s Shiloh Robinson in the first half. Carpenter was immediately ejected from the game while Robinson exited the game with a concussion and broken nose, causing him to miss a game and wear a face mask since returning to the lineup. Carpenter was suspended indefinitely by the Aggies and he has not played since the game against the Flames.
It was the beginning of a heated game as both teams were whistled for flagrant and/or technical fouls throughout the contest. Both teams and the officials will certainly have a close eye on this contest Thursday night.
RETURN HOME
After a prolonged, two-week, two-game road trip, the Flames return home to Liberty Arena for three of four games to close out the regular season. That home stand begins Thursday night against the Aggies.
Liberty, who has struggled on the road this season, has been very good at home. The Flames are 10-2 on the season and 4-1 in conference play at Liberty Arena. If the team can continue to play well at home, the team could build some positive momentum entering the conference tournament.
FINAL PUSH TOWARDS HUNTSVILLE
Liberty has just four games remaining in the regular season as we are only two weeks away from the 2024 Conference USA Tournament in Huntsville, Alabama.
Thursday night begins the final push of four games in those two weeks prior to Huntsville and the conference tournament. This league has plenty of parity and anybody could win on any given night, certainly on a neutral floor. Teams that head to Huntsville with some momentum could ride that towards a strong showing and potentially a conference title.
