Liberty (7-3) defeated Tennessee State (6-4), 74-52, in front of 2,311 fans at Liberty Arena on Wednesday evening.
“Proud of our effort,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay. “We kinda knew Tennessee State was a dangerous team and could really get out in transition at a break neck pace. It felt like that was an important part of the game. We did a pretty good job until the last 4:30-something in the first half, they went on a little run and took the lead.”
The Tigers made sure the fans in attendance knew they shouldn’t be counted as an easy win. The Flames pushed the lead to as many as eight points in the first half, but Tennessee State came right back, even taking the lead for nearly two minutes of the opening half. TSU was led by Christian Brown’s 16 first half points on 5 of 7 shooting from the field and 3 of 3 from three. An 11-0 run late in the first half gave the visitors a three-point lead before Joseph Venzant’s layup brought the score to 35-34 at the break.
In the 2nd half the story was all about the Liberty defense. The Flames held the Tigers to 4 of 32 shooting (12.5% in after intermission, as they were outscored 40-17 and Liberty rolled to the victory.
Kyle Rode led the team in scoring with 18 points on 7 of 15 shooting and 4 of 7 from three. Joseph Venzant also reached double figures with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Kaden Metheny added 10 points. Zach Cleveland nearly had a triple double with 9 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds.
“I think it was a little bit of a trap,” McKay said of the game. “When you play in front of 4,000+, you lose a really tough game to another really good team and it breaks a whatever game winning streak at home, there could be a little bit of interference in your confidence, maybe the disappointment that we felt that maybe we let Flames Nation down. I thought our guys showed a great deal of maturity, especially being down one in the first half, to respond the way they did int he second half.”
The Flames are back in action at Liberty Arena on Saturday. Liberty will take on non-Division I opponent St. Andrews Saturday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m.
LIBERTY GETS BACK IN WIN COLUMN
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Liberty basketball. The Flames have lost three of four games with their only win during this stretch coming against one of the worst teams in all of Division I, Mississippi Valley State.
It wasn’t always pretty but it certainly feels good for the team to get back in the win column moving into the Christmas break. The Flames take on non-DI St. Andrews on Saturday with another very good chance to notch another win before two tough non-conference tilts in Utah Valley and Alabama, both away from home.
“We haven’t lost three out of four very regularly,” said McKay. “Shiloh said it in the locker room and I think it was well said, ‘Grateful for winning because you can never take it for granted.’ College basketball is hard to win games, it doesn’t matter who you play. It’s hard playing any game, especially at this level, absolutely I think it was good for our group.”
CLEVELAND, VENZANT MAKE BIG IMPACTS
Zach Cleveland and Joseph Venzant don’t always get the credit they deserve for their contributions made on the court as they don’t always show up in the scoring column. Their efforts were much more noticeable on Wednesday night against the Tigers.
Cleveland was on pace for a triple double for much of the game but only played 27 minutes and finished with 9 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds. For much of the night while the sophomore was on the floor, the Flames ran the offense through the 6’7″ forward. For Venzant, it was a second career double-double as he finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
“Zach has such a uniqueness to him because he can play-make, he can be a point forward, he can score on the block,” said McKay. “He actually can shoot better than his percentages. Then, he’s a terrific defender. I think his uniqueness really helps our cause.”
“The more you watch Joseph, the more you appreciate him,” McKay said of his junior guard. “He’s really complete. He’s sacrificial. I think anything that comes his way in terms of recognition or accolades, I think they are so deserved.”
DEFENSE CLAMPS DOWN IN 2ND HALF
After giving up 46.2% shooting to the visitors in the first half, the Liberty locked up TSU in the second half. The Tigers were just 4 of 32 shooting (12.5%) after intermission, scoring just 17 points in the period. It allowed the Flames to outscore Tennessee State, 40-17, in the period and pick up the win after trailing by one at the break. 7 of the Tigers’ points in the final 20 minutes came from the free throw line. The 17 points scored in the second half by Tennessee State are the fewest scored in a half by any team against Liberty this season.
“We were better defensively,” McKay said. “I think Joseph had a lot to do with that. Them not having #2 for some of the 2nd half helped our cause too because he was feeling it, but Joseph wanted that assignment in the second half. I think our defense was really solid in the second half.”
