Liberty opens conference play Friday afternoon at approximately 2pm against 4-seed UNC-Asheville in a game that will be carried on ESPN3. Here’s what you need to know about the game:

1. The Bulldogs are 19-11 overall and 12-6 in Big South play.

They finished tied for 3rd place with Coastal Carolina and just 1 game out of first place.

2. Asheville has lost 3 out of their last 5 games.

Photo courtesy citizen-times.com

Prior to this stretch, they were in first place in the Big South at 10-3.

3. UNCA has won 9 straight games against the Flames.mckay2

Liberty’s last win in the series came in 2011.

4. The Flames are 3-4 all-time in the Big South Tournament against Asheville.22921326853_bc92146fca_z

This includes an 80-70 loss in last  year’s 6/11 game.

5. The Bulldogs lead the conference in 3-point defense.

Photo courtesy USA Today

Opponents are shooting just 29.7% from 3 against Asheville, as they rank 6th in the country in that statistic.

6. Liberty leads the Big South in 3-pointers made this season.

Liberty Basketball is in the midst of an amazing turn around.

Liberty Basketball is in the midst of an amazing turn around.

The Flames have made 277 three pointers.

7. Ritchie McKay was 2-2 during his first 2 Big South Tournaments.mckay1

Each season he lost in the semifinals, including a loss to UNCA in the 2008 tournament.