Liberty (17-11, 6-7 CUSA) looks to wrap up the week with a perfect 2-0 mark at home when it play UTEP (14-15, 5-9) on Saturday night in a Conference USA game.
Here’s what you need to know about the game:
How to Watch
7:00 p.m. ET | Saturday, March 2
Lynchburg, VA | Liberty Arena
TV: ESPN+
Liberty vs UTEP Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty -10
Projected score: Liberty 74, UTEP 64
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Sophomore Guard | 5’9″, 170
8.1 ppg, 3.9 apg
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Junior Guard | 5’10”, 170
13.4 ppg, 2.8 apg, 3.4 rpg
#23 Joseph Venzant
Junior Guard | 6’3″, 200
5.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg
#22 Kyle Rode
R-Senior Forward | 6’7″, 220
13.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.5 apg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Sophomore Forward | 6’7″, 215
12.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.0 apg
Liberty vs UTEP History
The Flames are 1-0 all-time against UTEP with the first and only prior meeting coming earlier this season. Liberty defeated UTEP, 67-65, in El Paso, Texas, the only road win for the Flames so far this season in CUSA play.
Liberty vs UTEP Storylines
HOME COURT MATTERS
We’ve talked about this seemingly ad nauseam during conference play this year, but it continues to be a main storyline in Conference USA. And it may even be more important for these two teams that meet on Saturday at Liberty Arena.
The Flames are 11-2 at home this season and just 2-7 in road contests. Those numbers go to 5-1 at home in conference play and 1-6 on the road.
Compare it to UTEP who is 12-5 at home on the year and 1-9 on the road. The Miners are 4-3 at home in conference play and 1-6 away from home.
FLAMES TRYING TO SWEEP SEASON SERIES
With those home-road splits mentioned above, Liberty’s lone road win in conference play this season came against this UTEP team just a couple weeks ago. Zach Cleveland and Kaden Metheny combined for 39 points in the win, as Liberty escaped with a 69-67 triumph.
With a win Saturday, the Flames will sweep the season series against the Miners, marking the first time Liberty has done that against a CUSA opponent. There’s only one more opportunity for the Flames to sweep a series this season against a conference mate, as Liberty heads to play at Middle Tennessee next week.
RODE TRYING TO GO OUT ON TOP
Liberty 5th year senior Kyle Rode is just a handful of games or so away from concluding his career in the Flames jersey. It has been a special one for the Lexington, Kentucky native and he’s hoping to end his tenure on a high note.
The 6’7″ forward scored 21 points on Thursday night against New Mexico State as he tied his career high with 7 made triples. Rode has just two more assured games at Liberty Arena, beginning with Saturday’s contest. He scored just 1 point in Liberty’s win at UTEP earlier this season. Certainly the Flames will need their captain to improve on that mark to help the team to the win.
