Wednesday, December 30
Orlando, Fla.
4:30 PM
Liberty University
6-8
64
vs
81
Buffalo
7-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 43 | 38 | 81 |
| Liberty | 30 | 34 | 64 |
Bulls Hold Off Flames in Orlando, 81-64
12/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Looking for redemption after a loss to UCF in the first round of the UCF Holiday Classic, the Liberty men's basketball team (6-8, 1-1 BSC) squared off against Buffalo in the tournament's consolation contest. With each team hoping to finish 1-1 in the tournament by game's end, the Bulls managed to accomplish the feat, holding off the Flames, 81-64 on Wednesday.
For the second-straight day, Kyle Ohman lit up the scoreboard, beginning with a trey which gave the Flames an early 3-0 lead at 19:22.
Following four unanswered tallies by the Bulls, Evan Gordon hit another three-pointer for the Flames, making it 6-4 at 17:57.
Liberty maintained an edge over the Bulls until the 15:48 mark, when Calvin Betts hit a jumper to knot the contest at 10.
After a made basket by the Knights' Rodney Pierce, Carter McMasters answered with a jumper to tie the game once again at 13:01, 12-12.
The stalemate soon ended, as the Bulls went on a 10-1 run over the next 2:17 to take a 22-13 lead. The Flames quickly responded to the burst, posting five-straight tallies to pull back within four at 9:49, 18-22.
Liberty made it a one-possession ball game with just over eight minutes remaining in the half thanks to a layup by Gordon, making it 25-22, Buffalo.
The Bulls then proceeded to go on another tear, scoring 10 unanswered tallies to jump out to a 35-22 advantage at 5:40. Konan ended the Bulls' scoring streak with an old-fashioned three-point play, cutting the deficit back to 10, 35-25, with 5:10 on the clock.
Buffalo managed to outscore the Flames, 8-3 in the closing minutes of the first half, making it 43-30 at halftime.
Ohman finished out the first half with 10 points, three boards and two steals, followed by Gordon, who chipped in eight tallies.
Pierce led all scorers with 14 points for the Bulls, with Betts adding 10 points and grabbing five boards. The Knights shot 53.6 percent from the field, while holding Liberty to 38.5 percent.
The Bulls showed no signs of fading at the start of the second half as John Boyer hit a three-pointer on their opening possession, making it 46-30. The Flames responded with four-straight points off baskets from McMasters and Patrick Konan to cut the deficit to 12 at 17:59, 46-34.
After both teams traded baskets, the Knights posted five unanswered points, extending their lead over the Flames to 17, at 53-36 with 15:23 remaining in the contest. Gordon halted the Knights' scoring burst at 15:08 with a layup, making it 53-38.
The Bulls posted four more points before David Minaya hit a jumper at 13:31, cutting Buffalo's lead to 17, 57-40. John Boyer then nailed a trey just 11 seconds later, putting the Bulls up by 20, 60-40.
The Flames netted four-straight points off baskets from Antwan Burrus and Konan, trimming the deficit, 60-44 with 10:22 left on the clock. Unfortunately, Liberty failed to climb any closer, as the Bulls went up by as much as 22 in the contest, ultimately earning an 81-64 decision.
The defeat drops the Flames to 6-8 on the season, while the Bulls improve to 7-4.
Gordon recorded 11 second-half points, finishing with 17 total tallies. Ohman garnered 12 points in the contest, earning a spot on the all-tournament team.
The Flames improved their shooting in the latter 20 minutes, shooting 50.0 percent (13-of-26) from the field, while holding the Bulls to 40.0 percent (10-of-25).
Pierce led all scorers in the contest with 31, with Boyer and Betts each finishing with 15. Betts also grabbed 8 boards.
The Flames return to Big South Conference action Saturday, squaring off against fellow Commonwealth competitor VMI in Lexington, Va. The Keydets enter the contest with a 4-6 overall record (1-1 BSC) after falling to CAA member George Mason in the Patriot Center on Dec. 22. Tipoff for Saturday's contest inside Cameron Hall is slated for 1 p.m.
For the second-straight day, Kyle Ohman lit up the scoreboard, beginning with a trey which gave the Flames an early 3-0 lead at 19:22.
Following four unanswered tallies by the Bulls, Evan Gordon hit another three-pointer for the Flames, making it 6-4 at 17:57.
Liberty maintained an edge over the Bulls until the 15:48 mark, when Calvin Betts hit a jumper to knot the contest at 10.
After a made basket by the Knights' Rodney Pierce, Carter McMasters answered with a jumper to tie the game once again at 13:01, 12-12.
The stalemate soon ended, as the Bulls went on a 10-1 run over the next 2:17 to take a 22-13 lead. The Flames quickly responded to the burst, posting five-straight tallies to pull back within four at 9:49, 18-22.
Liberty made it a one-possession ball game with just over eight minutes remaining in the half thanks to a layup by Gordon, making it 25-22, Buffalo.
The Bulls then proceeded to go on another tear, scoring 10 unanswered tallies to jump out to a 35-22 advantage at 5:40. Konan ended the Bulls' scoring streak with an old-fashioned three-point play, cutting the deficit back to 10, 35-25, with 5:10 on the clock.
Buffalo managed to outscore the Flames, 8-3 in the closing minutes of the first half, making it 43-30 at halftime.
Ohman finished out the first half with 10 points, three boards and two steals, followed by Gordon, who chipped in eight tallies.
Pierce led all scorers with 14 points for the Bulls, with Betts adding 10 points and grabbing five boards. The Knights shot 53.6 percent from the field, while holding Liberty to 38.5 percent.
The Bulls showed no signs of fading at the start of the second half as John Boyer hit a three-pointer on their opening possession, making it 46-30. The Flames responded with four-straight points off baskets from McMasters and Patrick Konan to cut the deficit to 12 at 17:59, 46-34.
After both teams traded baskets, the Knights posted five unanswered points, extending their lead over the Flames to 17, at 53-36 with 15:23 remaining in the contest. Gordon halted the Knights' scoring burst at 15:08 with a layup, making it 53-38.
The Bulls posted four more points before David Minaya hit a jumper at 13:31, cutting Buffalo's lead to 17, 57-40. John Boyer then nailed a trey just 11 seconds later, putting the Bulls up by 20, 60-40.
The Flames netted four-straight points off baskets from Antwan Burrus and Konan, trimming the deficit, 60-44 with 10:22 left on the clock. Unfortunately, Liberty failed to climb any closer, as the Bulls went up by as much as 22 in the contest, ultimately earning an 81-64 decision.
The defeat drops the Flames to 6-8 on the season, while the Bulls improve to 7-4.
Gordon recorded 11 second-half points, finishing with 17 total tallies. Ohman garnered 12 points in the contest, earning a spot on the all-tournament team.
The Flames improved their shooting in the latter 20 minutes, shooting 50.0 percent (13-of-26) from the field, while holding the Bulls to 40.0 percent (10-of-25).
Pierce led all scorers in the contest with 31, with Boyer and Betts each finishing with 15. Betts also grabbed 8 boards.
The Flames return to Big South Conference action Saturday, squaring off against fellow Commonwealth competitor VMI in Lexington, Va. The Keydets enter the contest with a 4-6 overall record (1-1 BSC) after falling to CAA member George Mason in the Patriot Center on Dec. 22. Tipoff for Saturday's contest inside Cameron Hall is slated for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
UB
LIBERTY
FG%
.472
.442
3FG%
.375
.375
FT%
.864
.706
RB
33
28
TO
17
18
STL
8
10
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
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Tuesday, March 31
Coach McKay Talks About The Nevada Game
Monday, March 23
Coach McKay, Brett Decker Jr. & Josh Smith Talk About The Win Over George Mason
Wednesday, March 18