Liberty (12-3, 4-0 CUSA) controlled the game throughout to defeat Louisiana Tech (8-7, 1-3) on Thursday night, 72-56 to open a two game road swing this weekend.
“Obviously, always really good to get a win on the road, especially,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay. “I saw in their media release they are something like 191-27 here since 2012, which is a really high percentage, that would rival anyone in the country over the last 13-14 years. I thought our guys were composed. I think they were unaffected by some of the negative plays or instances that occurred in the game. We’ve got a veteran group, especially in Metheny, Porter, and Cleveland.”
The Flames led for all but 40 seconds in the opening minutes, taking control of this game early and never looking back in a very business-like approach from a veteran team. Liberty went on an 8-0 and 11-1 run to push the lead to double figures while holding Louisiana Tech without a field goal for nearly six minutes of game action. Zach Cleveland scored six straight points for the Flames as part of the run as he scored 10 points in the first half to go along with six rebounds and five assists in the opening 20 minutes.
“Zach is such a unicorn,” said McKay. “He does so many things out there that go unnoticed or that aren’t statistics. I think their play elevated everyone else that was in the game or checked in the game.”
The Bulldogs cut it to six on a couple occasions early in the second half before a pair of Colin Porter free throws pushed the visitors’ advantage to double figures. Over the final 14:21 of the game, Louisiana Tech would not get the game back under a 10-point deficit.
The Flames pick up their first ever win in Ruston, Louisiana at the Thomas Assembly Center after dropping the first two contests there over the prior two seasons. The Bulldogs entered Thursday’s game a perfect 8-0 on their home floor this season. It’s also the first time a team has won a game away from home in the series history between the Flames and Bulldogs.
All five starters reached double figures for the Flames led by Brett Decker who had 15 points on 6 of 12 shooting and 3 of 6 from three. He also had a career-high 6 rebounds. JJ Harper had 13 points on 4 of 7 shooting. Colin Porter and Kaden Metheny each had 11 points. Porter pushed himself past the 1,000 career point mark during his Liberty career, becoming the 33rd player to accomplish that feat. Zach Cleveland flirted with a triple double with 10 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. Josh Smith added 8 points and 8 rebounds off the bench.
“I’ve had a lot of really good players and some special people God has allowed me to be in the room with,” McKay said of Colin Porter. “He is every bit of that and more. He’s an unbelievable competitor. He’s an unbelievable teammate. Chris and Hillary Porter should be so proud of the young man that they had the privilege of stewarding into the next chapters of his life. He is fabulous.”
Liberty shot 46% from the field while holding the Bulldogs to 35%. Both teams were 9 of 24 from three (38%). Liberty was 13 of 16 from the free throw line (81%). The Flames won the rebound battle, 41-33 and also held a 10-6 edge in second chance points, something that has been a weakness of this team much of the season.
“After the first two games, I think our guys had a deeper commitment to it,” McKay said of his team’s rebounding effort. “It helped us, no doubt about it. In defeat, often times there’s a lot of reasons people will points to why you don’t win a game. We’re not the best free throw shooting team, rebounding team…I can come up with a myriad of things that we’re not, but I really try to focus on who we are and try and play in our strengths and journey in our strengths. This is a high character group that is incredibly proud to represent Liberty.”
The Flames travel to Texas to take on Sam Houston on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+. The Bearkats are currently 9-6 on the season and 1-3 in conference play after picking up a win over Delaware at home Thursday night, 72-60.
