Liberty (5-3) vs. South Carolina State (0-7)
Lynchburg, Virginia – Liberty Arena
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 7:00 p.m. ET
ESPN+

Last Meeting: Liberty won, 65-39, on Nov. 12, 2019
Series History: Liberty leads 2-0

Projected LU Starters:

1 Chris Parker (Sr., 6-1, 170) – 9.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 5.0 apg
2 Darius McGhee (Jr., 5-9, 150) – 14.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.8 apg
10 Elijah Cuffee (Sr., 6-4, 200) – 9.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.7 apg
22 Kyle Rode (So., 6-7, 220) – 6.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.0 apg
33 Shiloh Robinson (So., 6-7, 200) – 3.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.8 apg

Projected South Carolina St. Starters:

10 Rahsaan Edwards (So., 6-0, 200) – 8.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.3 apg
15 Trushaun Moorer (Sr., 6-3, 190) – 5.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.7 apg
14 Floyd Rideau, Jr. (Fr., 6-5, 190) – 9.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.9 apg
4 Latavian Lawrence (Fr., 6-6, 210) – 5.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.3 apg
35 Sebastian Guitian (So., 6-10, 240) – 4.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.3 apg

QUICK FACTS

  • Liberty has a 26-game winning streak at home which is tied for the third longest streak in the country.
  • Liberty has made 90 three-pointers this season which ranks No. 1 in Division I. The Flames’ 11.2 makes per game ranks No. 10 in the country.
  • Darius McGhee is currently 3rd in the country with 25 made three pointers this season. McGhee is one of three players who rank in the top 35 nationally in made three pointers as Cuffee is No. 19 and McDowell is No. 34.

PREVIEW

The Liberty Flames return to action Tuesday night to continue its home stand at Liberty arena against South Carolina State. Under 8th year head coach Murray Garvin, the Bulldogs have begun the season 0-7. Their losses have come against Appalachian State, Bowling Green, Clemson, UNC Asheville, Charlotte, Charleston, and Jacksonville. Fellow ASUN member Jacksonville defeated South Carolina State on Sunday, 60-58.

It’s a rematch of an early season game last season when the Flames defeated the Bulldogs, 65-39, in a game both teams struggled offensively. The 39 points the Bulldogs scored is the fewest Liberty has allowed against a Division I program in school history. The Flames and Bulldogs combined to miss their first 12 field goal attempts with the first bucket coming at the 14:48 mark by South Carolina State’s Rayshawn Neal. Liberty’s first bucket came at the 13:24 mark when Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz hit a floater in the paint. Pacheco-Ortiz led the Flames in scoring with 12 points while Caleb Homesley added 10 points and 6 rebounds.

This is one of the final tune ups for the Flames before the conference season begins Jan. 1 at Lipscomb. Liberty is currently scheduled to host Alcorn State on Dec. 22 in the non-conference regular season finale. The Flames also had a game added for Dec. 16 at Liberty Arena against NCCAA member Carver College.

KENPOM PREDICTION

Liberty 79, South Carolina State 55