The Flames got beat by VCU, 85-57, Sunday evening in Richmond. Here’s our rapid reactions:

  1. No surprise here. The Rams are good. We are not.
  2. Coach McKay went with a new starting lineup again, this time inserting Ryan Kemrite into the lineup in place of Caleb Homesley. Kemrite started alongside Lovell Cabbil, John Dawson, Evan Maxwell, and Ryan Hiepler.
  3. Ryan Kemrite, getting his first start since December 5th against Charleston Southern, had one of his most productive games this season. He would finish with 17 points and 6 rebounds while shooting 7/10 from the floor. It was his 2nd highest scoring performance of the year.
  4. John Dawson was virtually unheard of in the first half, scoring just 2 points while shooting 1/4 from the field with 3 turnovers and 2 fouls. The Marquette transfer turned it on in the 2nd half though, scoring 12 points while shooting 5/6 from the floor.
  5. Lovell Cabbil struggled shooting from the floor, finishing 1/5 from the floor for just 2 points, his lowest output of the season. On the bright side, he did finish with a team-high 5 assists.
  6. Liberty was aggressive in doubling the post as Virginia often does in the packline defense under Coach Bennett. We haven’t seen it at Liberty a lot in the first 13 games this year. It was fairly effective when utilized against the Rams.
  7. A few noteworthy stats: rebounds – VCU 37, LU 23; points in the paint – VCU 40, LU 22; fast break points – VCU 18, LU 0. Ouch.
  8. Liberty did win the 2nd half, 41-40! Just a moral victory as the Rams were playing out the stretch after leading 45-16 at halftime.
  9. At one point in the first half, the VCU television announcers said, “attack Dawson & Maxwell and there’s nothing else there.”
  10. The Flames were 1/7 from the charity stripe in the first half and finished the game 4/11.
  11. 10 straight losses now for the Flames who are still seeking its first Division I win of the year.
  12. Quick turnaround for Liberty who faces Notre Dame Tuesday night in a game that will be played on ESPNU.