Liberty (2-0) vs. South Carolina State (1-1)
Lynchburg, VA – Vines Center
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. ET
ESPN+

Last Meeting: Liberty won, 79-55, on December 11, 2018 in the first-ever meeting between the programs.
Series History: Liberty leads the all-time series, 1-0.

Projected LU Starters:

11 Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz (Sr., 6-1, 175) – 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.5 apg
2 Darius McGhee (So., 5-9, 150) – 11.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 apg
10 Elijah Cuffee (Jr., 6-4, 200) – 6.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.5 apg
1 Caleb Homesley (R-Sr., 6-6, 200) – 10.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.5 apg
31 Scottie James (R-Sr., 6-7, 230) – 12.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.0 apg

Projected SCSU Starters:

35 Damani Applewhite (Sr., 6-8, 200) – 10.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.5 apg
14 Jahmari Etienne (Sr., 6-3, 190) – 10.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.0 apg
3 Rayshawn Neal (Jr., 5-10, 205) – 6.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.5 apg
24 Ian Kinard (Sr., 6-8, 215) – 13.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.5 apg
5 Ozante Fields (Sr., 6-7, 225) – 7.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.0 apg

QUICK FACTS

  • Of the 80 minutes Liberty has played this season, the Flames have trailed for just 41 seconds.
  • Liberty is trying to improve to 3-0 for the second straight season.
  • The Flames have won eight straight games at the Vines Center dating back to last season.
  • Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz (74 wins) is 12 victories away from becoming Liberty’s all-time winningest player in school history, surpassing Lovell Cabbil who set the record last year with 85 wins.
  • Liberty is favored by 19 points.

PREVIEW

Tuesday will be the third and final game in Liberty’s season-opening homestand as the Flames take on the South Carolina State Bulldogs. These two teams met last season in the Vines Center, in a game that the Flames won by 24. Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz led the way in that game with 18 points as he knocked down 6-of-7 three pointers. Pacheco-Ortiz has yet to hit a three pointer this season, he is 0-of-9 behind the new three-point line. Georgie was one of five Flames that reached double figures in the meeting last season, followed by Lovell Cabbil, Caleb Homesley, Scottie James, and Elijah Cuffee.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 79-64 home-opener win over Bob Jones University on Friday. Preseason First Team All-MEAC senior forward Damani Applewhite led the way with a team-high 19 points and eight rebounds in the win.

“This is a measuring stick game for us,” South Carolina State head coach Murray Garvin said. “Liberty is a very good basketball team that returns seven of their top eight guys from a team that went to the final 32 in the NCAA Tournament last year. We have been locked in with preparation since our game on Friday and will be excited for an opportunity against a talented and tough Liberty program.”

KENPOM PREDICTION

Liberty 77, South Carolina State 59