For the first time in three seasons in the league, Liberty (9-3, 1-0 CUSA) picked up the win in its Conference USA conference opener after picking up a win in overtime on Sunday afternoon in Miami at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center against FIU (7-5, 0-1), 97-94.
It was a back and forth contest throughout in a game that featured 17 lead changes and 10 ties and needed five extra minutes to settle the score. Liberty led 41-33 at halftime thanks to a 12-2 spurt to provide some separation late in the opening half. The home-standing Panthers exploded for a 12-3 run of their own out of the halftime break to even the score at 44. FIU took their biggest lead of the game, 63-55, with 9:04 remaining.
Liberty clawed back into the game, evening it at 73 with 4:24 left following a JJ Harper bucket in the paint. The Flames trailed 81-80 with less than a minute remaining in regulation before Eric Dibami split a pair of foul shots with 21 seconds on the clock. On the ensuing possession, Zach Cleveland found Josh Smith in the post, and Smith got the bucket on a goaltending violation. On the final possession of regulation, Dibami’s layup rimmed out to send the game to overtime.
In the extra session, the Flames made 9 of 10 from the foul line, led by Brett Decker’s 4 for 4 mark. Kaden Metheny hit a clutch three-pointer with 1:06 on the clock to put Liberty ahead for good at 92-91. Porter, Metheny, and Decker were 5 of 6 from the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the win.
FIU dominated the game on the inside with 20 offensive rebounds and 45 total rebounds. The 20 offensive boards are the most the Flames have allowed in a game this season, the previous high was just 12 on three separate occasions. FIU led in points in the paint (56-40) and second chance points (25-11).
Brett Decker scored a game-high 27 points while Kaden Metheny added 25 points in the road victory for the Flames, handing the Panthers only their second home setback of the season, falling to 7-2 on their home floor. Decker made 5 of 11 from three while Metheny connected on 6 of 13 from range to go along with 6 assists and 3 steals.
Colin Porter chipped in 16 points for the Flames on 4 of 10 shooting from behind the arc while Josh Smith had 13 points and 9 rebounds in a season-high 25 minutes. Smith was a team-best +21 on the afternoon, by far the best margin on the team. Zach Cleveland finished the afternoon with 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting to go along with 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block.
Liberty was able to overcome strong interior play from FIU who was led by Eric Dibami’s 21 points on 9 of 14 shooting as well as 9 rebounds. Corey Stephenson added 17 points and 11 rebounds while Hamed Olayinka had 16 points and 6 rebounds.
The Flames improved to 8-0 on the season when shooting over 50% from the e floor, finishing the game at 35 of 69 for 50.7%. The Panthers finished the game shooting 49.3%. Liberty made 15 of 40 from deep (37.5%). After starting the game 0 of 3 from the free throw line, the Flames finished the game at 12 of 16 by making 11 of the team’s final 12 attempts.
Liberty will play its CUSA home opener on Friday against Kennesaw State (8-4, 0-1 CUSA). The game is set for 7 p.m. from Liberty Arena and will be streamed on ESPN+. The Flames and Owls squared off three times last season, including a Liberty win in the CUSA Championship semifinals. The Flames are 0-2 all-time in CUSA home openers. Last year, the Flames were edged by Western Kentucky, 71-70, at Liberty Arena in its CUSA home lid lifter.
