Liberty defeated McNeese, 62-58, on Monday night in the Virgin Islands to win the 2024 Paradise Jam. The Flames improve to 7-1 on the season after wins over Louisiana, Kansas State, and McNeese over the weekend to win the tournament.
“Anytime you are able to win a championship, that’s a gift,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay. “I was really proud of our group. We didn’t have a whole lot in the tank. We only played 7. To give the effort that they did speaks to their character. It speaks to the 8 guys that didn’t get in and how incredible they were on the bench.”
The Flames utilized a 15-2 run to seize control of the game over a span of 6:22 of game action, as Liberty led 46-35 with 12 minutes remaining. The Cowboys wouldn’t go down easy. A 30-win and NCAA Tournament team a year ago, McNeese kept clawing back to cut into the Liberty advantage over the final several minutes.
After a Kaden Metheny triple pushed the Liberty lead to 9 at 54-45 with 6:54 to play, the Cowboys responded with six straight points. Liberty went scoreless for over 3 minutes during that span and only led by 3 with 3:22 left. Colin Porter would drain a clutch three pointer to push the lead back to six, but McNeese fought back one more time. They scored 5 straight again, to get within one.
Down one in the closing seconds and going to the free throw line with a chance to tie or take the lead, Brandon Murray missed the front end of the one-and-one.
Isaiah Ihnen would make one of two free throws with 11 seconds left, to put the Flames up by two. He then got the block of Javohn Garcia’s driving layup with 4 seconds left. Ihnen grabbed the rebound and then Jayvon Maughmer hit the two free throws with 2 seconds remaining to give Liberty the 62-58 win. A gutsy win for the Flames, winning two straight on consecutive nights in games that were decided in the final seconds.
“It’s not just the physical drain,” McKay remarked when asked about the quick turnaround. “Against a Big 12 opponent, they are used to winning. They were ready for us. They did not think we were someone that they were just going to walk in the gym and win the game against. But, the emotional part is also draining. Most of our guys couldn’t even tell you what conference McNeese is, but McNeese won 30 games last year. We’ve been in that position. When your program has that kind of success, you walk into the gym thinking you are going to win the game because you experience it so many times. We weren’t our normal selves, but I don’t think they were either because of the taxation and the turnaround yet I do think it was a good basketball game and our guys found a way. They responded.”
For the second straight night, Colin Porter led the team in scoring. He finished with 16 points on Monday, making four three points and all four of his free throws. The Liberty point guard added 5 assists and 5 rebounds. Porter was named the MVP of the Paradise Jam.
Maughmer was the only other play in double figures for the Flames, finishing with 12 points. Isaiah Ihnen had 9 points and 3 rebounds.
Zach Cleveland and Owen Aquino had similar stat lines, each one having 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. The forward tandem combined to make 5 of 10 field goal attempts while Cleveland was 4 of 6 from the free throw line.
Kaden Metheny was plagued by foul trouble, fouling out in the final minutes. He finished the game with 6 points on 2 of 9 shooting from behind the arc.
“I thought McNeese was really good,” said McKay. I knew they would be good. They’ve got a scheme that is difficult to solve, especially on a quick turnaround and short prep, but our guys found a way. Without Kaden down the stretch, that was a challenge too because he’s pretty good from the free throw line and a big shot maker. But how about Colin Porter? He deserved being the MVP. Happy for him he, did a great job.
The Flames put up another solid performance from the free throw line, making 11 of 14 at the stripe. Of those, Liberty made 5 of 6 in the final minute to seal the victory.
This has been one of the best starts in program history. The Flames are 7-1 with two wins on the road, two wins over teams that made the NCAA Tournament a season ago, two wins over top 100 KenPom teams, and a win over a high major opponent in Kansas State. 7 of Liberty’s first 8 games have been away from home. A terrific start for the Flames.
Liberty returns to Lynchburg and will begin a seven game homestand on Friday against Central Penn.
