Liberty (19-6, 10-2) saw its 7-game win streak come to an end on Saturday evening, falling to Lipscomb (15-10, 7-5), 69-64.

“Tough one that Lipscomb certainly earned,” said head coach Ritchie McKay. “I think it’s really good for us. We are not invincible. When you play games that are both physically tough and adversity is presented to you during the game, you’ve got a chance to respond. Our group responded terrifically. I like the looks we got down the stretch, I like the fact that we took care of the ball in the second half better than we did in the first half. I just think not being able to have JV and maybe a little bit longer bench might have been to our detriment, but I don’t want to take anything away from Lipscomb, they earned the victory.”

It was a back and forth contest throughout as the game was tied at halftime. The Bisons were able to grab a lead in the second half and maintain it coming down the stretch. Liberty was able to cut an eight point lead to as close as one point in the final minute, but misses late ended the Flames’ chances.

Darius McGhee led the team in scoring with 19 points. Colin Porter chipped in 11 while Kyle Rode added 10. The Flames had 9 first half turnovers but corrected that in the second half to finish with just 13 miscues. Joseph Venzant only played 10 minutes as he appeared to suffer an injury in the first half to his left leg.

“I could tell when I took him out with 16 to go he wasn’t right,” McKay said of Venzant. “He will have to get evaluated before I put him back in. I really don’t know anything. I didn’t ask (trainer) Aaron (Schreiner). I felt like we had to get through it. The way he came off the court, just using my judgement there. He’s such an important piece to what we do. We will never put a kid in harm’s way. I’ll get with Aaron, and I’m sure he will see a doctor tomorrow, and we will figure out what’s happening there.”

The Flames will return home to take on Bellarmine Thursday night at Liberty Arena. The Knights are currently 11-14 overall and 6-6 in ASUN playing following their win against Jacksonville State on Saturday. Liberty defeated Bellarmine in the conference opener, 70-53, on Dec. 29 in Louisville.

McGHEE BECOMES LIBERTY’S CAREER SCORING LEADER

Unfortunately, it came in a losing effort but Darius McGhee become Liberty’s all-time scoring leader on Saturday, breaking a 43-year old record. McGhee now has 2,384 career points, passing the record held by Karl Hess since 1980. Hess scored 2,373 points during his career. McGhee finished the game with 19 points as he made 5 of 13 from three-point range.

LIPSCOMB’S HOT SHOOTING TOO MUCH TO OVERCOME

The Bisons connected on  46% of their three point attempts, making 11 of 24 on the night. Lipscomb was led by the hot shooting by Jacob Ognacevic and Derrin Boyd, both having career nights from behind the arc.

Ognacevic entered the night having only connected on 23.7% of his three pointers this season, but he would connect on four of seven from distance against the Flames, setting a season high in makes from deep, previously having a game high of just two.

Boyd was 5 of 6 from three against the Flames on Saturday, also setting a season high in makes for a game as he previously has hit four in a game on a couple of occasions this year. Boyd was shooting 36.6% from three entering the night.

“We’ve been way better,” McKay said of his team’s defense at the three-point line. “They have hard action to guard. I know their numbers don’t look like they typically do. You’re playing at home, they are energized, motivated, all of that.”

WIN STREAK COMES TO AN END

Liberty saw its seven game win streak come to an end as the Flames hadn’t lost since Jan. 8 at Eastern Kentucky. The Flames had won their last seven games, all by at least 12 points. Lipscomb was also able to overcome a previous defeat against Liberty when they fell to the Flames, 77-48, in Lynchburg on Jan. 2.

“It’s basketball,” said McKay. “It’s life on the road, it’s not easy. When you’ve gone on a win streak or you win such and such, or you see your name at the top of the standings, what becomes inherent with that is expectation. We have a phenomenal group of young men that we try to guard against any lack of humility or thinking that you can just show up and win. You just can’t do that. Lipscomb earned the victory. I liked our guys response. We don’t panic, we have a maturity about us. I think this will be really healthy for us.”

“For us, we get a chance to feel the sting of a loss,” McKay also said. “We really have a lot of pride in representing Liberty and trying to be the best basketball program that we have. I hope that people can see the group that we have because they are responders. I just think this team is really worth getting behind and continuing to support.”

COACH McKAY POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE