This week’s ASOR Player of the Week, is Kyle Rode.
After a short hiatus due to COVID related reasons, Flames basketball returned this week and split their two games, defeating North Alabama, and then falling to Jacksonville State. Junior Kyle Rode filled up the stat sheet in both games, and is continuing to step up as Liberty’s “Glue Guy.”
In Liberty’s win against North Alabama, Rode scored a season-high 17 points, while securing eight rebounds and dishing out five assists. Against Jacksonville State, Rode had 13 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
Rode may not be the flashiest player on the court, but there may not be a more consistent player in terms of overall production on the Flames’ roster. On the season, the forward is averaging 6.8 points per game (4th on team), 3.6 rebounds per game (5th on team), 4.1 assists per game (1st on team), and 0.7 steals per game (3rd on team). Rode ranks in the top five on the team in virtually every major statistical category, including owning a solid field goal percentage of 45.7%. The Lexington, Kentucky native may not be a top-scoring option every night for the Flames, but Rode always contributes in other ways, including on defense, as the junior is one of Liberty’s most versatile and talented defenders.
Liberty suffered their first home loss in three years Saturday in Lynchburg but will look past that and focus on a tough week ahead. Rode and the Flames will prepare for three road games this week, as Liberty will face Kennesaw State, Bellarmine, and Eastern Kentucky. As the Flames look to stay atop the ASUN East Division standings, Liberty will look for their “Swiss Army Knife” in Kyle Rode to continue to contribute at a high level.
