MBB Game Day Central: High Point
1/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Complete Game Notes (PDF format)
Live Video Streaming (Big South Network)
Live Flames Sports Network Radio Broadcast
Live Stats
High Point Men's Basketball Web Page
The Game
Currently in a three-way tie for third place in the Big South Conference, the Liberty men's basketball team heads to High Point, N.C., squaring off with the High Point Panthers on Thursday. Like the Flames, the Panthers also hold a 4-3 record in conference play this season. Thursday's matchup marks the 24th meeting between the two teams and the 12th inside the Mills Athletic and Convocation Center. The Flames hold a 14-9 series record over the Panthers, but are 3-8 all-time at High Point.
Recent Results
Looking to start 4-1 in the Big South for the first time in school history, the Flames remained in the Palmetto State on Jan. 9, squaring off with Winthrop. In a contest which went down to the wire, the Flames led by a single digit with 39 seconds remaining. However, following a Winthrop timeout, the Eagles' Andre Jones hit a three-pointer, giving the Eagles control with 27 ticks left. Winthrop went on to edge the Flames, 65-62.
Liberty returned to the Vines Center Jan. 14 after a five-game stint on the road, hosting Gardner-Webb. Senior Kyle Ohman reached a milestone, becoming the 21st member of Liberty's 1,000-point club. Ohman finished the night with 17 points (1,014 all-time), as the Flames improved to 4-2 in the Big South, defeating the Runnin' Bulldogs, 68-57.
Hoping to control the third spot in the conference rankings, the Flames played host to UNC Asheville on Saturday. Throughout the contest, Liberty rallied on numerous occasions to make it a one-possession ball game, but was unable to grab the lead in the second half, ultimately falling to the Bulldogs, 74-70.
Watch and Listen to the Flames
There will be a radio broadcast which will air on the Flames Sports Network (flagship WRVL 88.3 FM) with Jerry Edwards providing the play-by-play for his 29th season. Additionally, an Internet audio broadcast on LibertyFlames.com will be available. There will also be a live video stream of the broadcast via the Big South Network, available on BigSouthSports.com.
Fast Break with the Panthers
High Point enters Thursday's contest with a 9-8 record overall and a 4-3 posting in conference play. On Saturday the Panthers travelled to Conway, S.C., taking on conference leader Coastal Carolina. Down by 23 points at halftime, the Panthers trimmed the deficit to 11 in the second half, but failed to climb any closer, as the Chanticleers ultimately took the contest, 75-58.
Eugene Harris led the way for the Panthers with 25 points, followed by Corey Law, who finished with 10 tallies and eight boards. Four Chanticleers reached double digits in scoring during the contest, including Mario Edwards (28), Chad Gray (20), Joseph Harris (10) and Kierre Greenwood (10).
Nick Barbour is currently the Panthers' leading scorer, averaging 17.9 points per game. Harris is also averaging double figures this season, chipping in 14.5 points per contest. Cruz Daniels is making an impact around the basket, grabbing 5.6 boards and blocking 2.7 shots per game.
Liberty-High Point Series Notes
Thursday's matchup marks the 24th meeting between Liberty and High Point, with the Flames holding a 14-9 edge in the all-time series. The two squads met for the first time during the 1998-99 season, squaring off in High Point, N.C., on Jan. 23, 1999. The Panthers managed to hold off the Flames in overtime, taking the contest, 93-89. The following month, the Flames avenged the loss at the Vines Center, besting the Panthers, 72-55 (Feb. 13, 1999).
Liberty and High Point met in back-to-back weeks last season, with Liberty sweeping the season series. On Jan. 20, 2009, the Flames defeated the Panthers at the Mills Athletic and Convocation Center, 61-56. Anthony Smith led the way for the Flames with 24 points, followed by Kyle Ohman, who chipped in 19 points and seven rebounds. Three Panthers also scored in double figures, Jourdan Morris (15), Steadman Short (14) and Eugene Harris (11).
The following week on Jan. 27, the Flames played host to High Point, besting the guest, 78-63. Kyle Ohman led all scorers with 26 points, followed by Anthony Smith, who finished with 23. Seth Curry recorded a double-double in the matchup, posting 16 points and grabbing 10 boards. High Point's one-two scoring punch of Nick Barbour and Eugene Harris also ended the night with solid numbers, scoring 21 and 17 points, respectively.
Layer Versus the Big South
Dale Layer holds an 8-6 record all-time against current Big South opponents. Prior to returning to Liberty, Layer went 2-1 against Gardner-Webb as head coach of the Colorado State Rams. At the time, the Runnin' Bulldogs were members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. During his stint at Division II member Queens, Layer garnered a 2-2 record against the Winthrop Eagles.
Second Time Around
When Layer served as a Liberty assistant during the 2007-08 season, the Flames went 7-7 in conference play. Liberty posted at least one win over all but one conference opponent. That season, the Winthrop Eagles took both contests against the Flames, 55-48 (Jan. 15, 2008) and 59-50 (Feb. 12, 2008). Liberty managed to sweep one Big South opponent, as they went 2-0 against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, 78-59 (Jan. 21, 2008) and 66-51 (Feb. 16, 2008).
Liberty split in its meetings with High Point that season, taking the first contest 55-51 inside the Vines Center on Jan. 26, 2008. Alex McLean finished the contest with a double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The following month on Feb. 6, the Panthers avenged the loss by successfully defending their home court against the Flames, 67-53. On that day, it was High Point's Arizona Reid who earned the double-double with a 23-point, 11-rebound performance.
Perfect at Home
High Point is one of two teams in the Big South holding an undefeated record at home this season. The Panthers are a perfect 7-0 inside the Mills Athletic and Convocation Center, with wins over UNC Pembroke, Hampden-Sydney, South Carolina State, North Carolina Central, Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville and Radford. The only other conference competitor with an unblemished home record is Charleston Southern, who currently holds an 8-0 record at the CSU Field House this season.
Ending the Streak
Senior Kyle Ohman came off the bench in Saturday's contest against UNC Asheville due to a wrist injury suffered in the matchup with Gardner-Webb, ending his streak of 55-consecutive starts. Prior to last Saturday's game, the last time Ohman entered a contest off the bench was on March 1, 2008, as the Flames hosted Radford in their final game of the 2007-08 regular season.
Approaching Program Milestones
Thursday's contest marks the 1,099th all-time for the Flames and the 2,195th for the Panthers. The Flames will play their 1,100th game in Radford, Va., squaring off with the Radford Highlanders on Jan. 23. High Point's 2,200th contest also takes place at Radford, as the Panthers take on the Highlanders on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.
