This week’s ASOR Player of the Week, is Keegan McDowell.
Due to COVID related reasons, the Flames were only able to play one game this week instead of their scheduled three. However, the Flames dominated in the one game they played, crushing the Jacksonville Dolphins by nearly 40 points. Senior guard Keegan McDowell was a huge reason why. Against the Dolphins, the senior tied his career-high with 21 points and finished a highly efficient 7-9 from three. McDowell also finished the game with two steals, a block, and an assist.
McDowell has proved to be a very efficient offensive player for Liberty this season, specifically from the three-point line. McDowell not only leads the team in three-point percentage but is also ranked 12th in the nation in that category, shooting lights out at a 46.94% clip. McDowell’s field goal percentage is even better (48%), and the senior is second on the team behind only Darius McGhee in both points per game (10.6) and minutes per game (28.9). The Cincinnati, Ohio native is the only player besides McGhee on the team to average double-figures in points.
McDowell is having an extremely efficient season for the Flames. While Rode and Robinson have been coming on lately on offense, McDowell has been a consistent scoring threat (specifically from three) all season. While he may not shoot as many shots as some other members of the team, when he does, there is a good chance that it’s going in.
While Darius McGhee is undoubtedly the top scoring threat and can easily drop 20+ on any given night, McDowell has stepped up this season as a secondary scoring option. The Flames will face North Alabama on Thursday in an ASUN Championship rematch of last season, before facing some of the conference’s best in Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, and Bellarmine, all within a one-week span. With so many tough games in a small stretch, Liberty will have to rely on multiple players to score and be productive to win. Thus far in the 2021-22 season, McDowell has proven he can be one of those guys.
