Here’s our rapid reactions following the Flames’ 69-54 loss to Coastal Carolina:
- We found out just minutes before the game tipped that Joe Retic would be unavailable due to breaking his foot against UNC Asheville. The injury will require surgery and he is out “indefinitely.” It was a tough pill to swallow with Liberty facing the top team in the Big South.
- Liberty actually got off to a pretty good start offensively, scoring 20 points in the first 10 minutes of the game taking a 20-17 lead at the time. The Flames’ usual offense showed up at that point, as Liberty was stuck on 20 points from the 10:26 mark in the first half until the 2:39 mark. During this stretch, the Chanticleers went on a 13-0 run to take a 30-20 lead. The lead would remain in double figures for much of the remainder of the game.
- A.C. Reid was a key factor in the early offensive production. He knocked down back to back 3’s early on. The first made 3-pointers he has made since breaking his nose prior to conference play starting. Reid would not hit another shot the rest of the way as he finished 2/7 from the field.
- Liberty has struggled with their turnovers throughout the season, but it wasn’t the turnover that affected them against Coastal. The Flames finished with 13 turnovers on the night. That’s a number I’m sure Coach Layer can live with.
- Speaking of Layer. He was T’d up as the first half expired giving Coastal 2 free throws to start the 2nd half.
- Liberty failed to place a player in double figures in scoring for the first time since a February 2010 home loss to Winthrop. Theo Johnson was the Flames’ leading scorer with 9 points. He also added 8 rebounds. Drew Smith also added 9 points.
- The Flames fall to 0-4 to start conference play. Things don’t get any easier as LU travels to Charleston to face Charleston Southern on Wednesday. The Buccaneers are 2-2 in Big South play after beating Longwood, 68-54, on Saturday. Liberty is 0-8 away from the Vines Center this season.
