kemrite12 game losing streak comes to an end
Liberty’s 12 game losing streak came to an end Wednesday night when the Flames knocked off 2-time defending Big South Champion Coastal Carolina on their home floor. It was Liberty’s first win over a Division I team since February 26,2015, and first road win since February 22, 2014. John Dawson hit the go ahead 3-pointer with 11 seconds left. He led the team with 18 points. Coach McKay’s squad will attempt to win consecutive games against Division I teams for the first time since February 2014 when it defeated Campbell and Longwood. Liberty hosts Campbell at 2pm on Saturday in the Vines Center. 

Uzowihe named FlamesNation POY 2015
Chima Uzowihe was named the 2015 FlamesNation Player of the Year. Uzowihe was named Big South Defensive Player of the Year following his senior season in 2015, becoming the first player in program history to receive the honor. He finished the season with 52 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 6 QB hurries, and 4 pass breakups. Chima is a 3-time All-Big South first team honoree and was one of 25 finalists for the 2015 STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year award. He finished his career with a program and Big South best 25 sacks and finished 2nd in program history with 44 career tackles for a loss.

Basketball commits update

  • Signee Xzavier Barmore is now averaging 22.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 6.8 steals per game. He is shooting 40% from the field, 26% from 3, and 66% from the free throw line.
  • Josiah Talbert made his senior season debut after being injured. He scored 6 points and grabbed 4 boards in his team’s win.
  • Defending state champs Poca and Liberty commit Elijah Cuffee performed very well in the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach over the holidays. In his 3 games there, he averaged 25.3 points and 11 rebounds. He also went head-to-head with 5 star guard and UNC signee Jalek Felton and scored 30 points against him with Coach McKay in attendance.
  • 2017 signee Jay Barber had 26 points in a win for LCA at EC Glass. Barber and the Bulldogs finished the Holiday Hoops Classic 2-0.

Football recruiting update
I’m currently working on a detailed football recruiting update. I was hoping to have it ready to be published this week, but it is taking me longer than anticipated. Be on the lookout for it sometime next week as we continue to provide updates on the Class of 2016 as we prepare for Signing Day 2016 which is February 3.

lunsfordLunsford to play in NFLPA Bowl
Liberty kicker John Lunsford is currently in Florida training for the NFL. He will play in the NFLPA Bowl All-Star game on January 23rd.

Flames in the NFL update
Rashad Jennings finished the season on a high note with his best performances of the year coming in the final 3 games. Rashad rushed for 170 yards and 1 touchdown on 27 carries and also had 2 receptions for 6 yards in the Giants’ 35-30 loss to the Eagles. . Walt Aikens did not record any statistics in the Dolphins’ 20-10 win over the Patriots. He did, however, make news when he paid for a woman’s items in Wal Mart and she repaid him with some cookies.

Women’s basketball update
The Lady Flames have won 3 straight games in Big South play over Campbell, Radford, and UNC-Asheville. With the win over UNCA, Liberty moved into a first place tie with the Bulldogs at 4-1 in conference play. LU faces Presbyterian on Saturday in Clinton, South Carolina.

FlameFans thread of the week
This week’s FlameFans thread of the week is NFL Coaching Carousel.