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Monday, November 6
Lynchburg, Va.
7:00 PM ET
Liberty University
1-0,0-0CUSA
103
vs
43
Mid-Atlantic Christian
0-1
1
2
F
Mid-Atlantic Christ.
19
24
43
Liberty
48
55
103
Flames Down MACU 103-43 in Season Opener
11/6/2023 10:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty Flames downed the Mid-Atlantic Christian Mustangs 103-43 in their 2023-24 season opener, Monday evening at Liberty Arena.
The Flames (1-0) improve to 11-0 in home openers under head coach Ritchie McKay and 4-0 all-time in home openers held at Liberty Arena.
Five Liberty players scored in double figures, led by a game-high 20 points from Brody Peebles. Zach Cleveland added a career-high 13 points, while Shiloh Robinson, Zander Yates and Gabriel McKay scored 10 points each. Yates and McKay's efforts were both career highs. All 11 Flames who saw playing time scored at least four points.
Mid-Atlantic Christian counted tonight's game as an exhibition and remains at 0-1 on its season.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Brody Peebles 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4-10 3FG, 4-4 FT; Zach Cleveland 13 points, 5-7 FG, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks; Shiloh Robinson 10 points, 9 rebounds; Gabriel McKay 10 points, 4-5 FG; Zander Yates 10 points
Mid-Atlantic Christian Individuals: Carter Robinson 9 points, 4-10 FG; Carlos Raven 8 points, 3-10 FG; Elijah Cox 7 points, 3-7 FG
Key Team Stats: The Flames shot 55.4 percent (36-of-55) in the game and exactly half of their three-pointers (17-of-34). Liberty's 17 triples are tied for the fifth most in a game in program history. The Liberty defense held MACU to 29.5 percent shooting (18-of-61) and forced 14 Mustangs turnovers. Liberty held edges in points off turnovers (26-7), points in the paint (38-20), second chance points (26-3), fast break points (11-4) and bench points (63-20). This is the second straight year the Flames scored at least 60 bench points in the season opener. Liberty outrebounded MACU 52-22, with five Flames grabbing five or more boards.
Thoughts From Head Coach Ritchie McKay
"Our group plays together. It's game one. I think we were a little burdened by expectations that we're supposed to be this or that. Every season is different. Every team is unique to the given season. There's different personalities that contribute to the chemistry and the togetherness and spirit of unity that they play with. Ours is evolving. Our foundation is tremendous. I think our guys did a good job of responding to a lot of adversity."
Turning Point
Liberty held a 15-14 lead at the 10:00 mark of the opening half before closing the half on a 33-5 run to take a commanding 48-19 lead. The Flames opened the second half with the first 15 points in the first 4:35 before a MACU basket at the 15:03 mark finally ended the run. Between the last 4:09 of the first half and first 4:57 of the second half (9:06 off the clock), Liberty scored 29 straight points.
During that run, Zach Cleveland led the charge with seven points, and Kyle Rode added six points on back-to-back threes early in the second half.
Key Stats & Notes
Up Next
Liberty will return to action on Friday against the Charlotte 49ers (1-0) in the "He Gets Us" Hall of Fame Series in Charlotte, N.C. The Flames and 49ers will tip things off at 4:30 p.m. at the Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
The Flames (1-0) improve to 11-0 in home openers under head coach Ritchie McKay and 4-0 all-time in home openers held at Liberty Arena.
Five Liberty players scored in double figures, led by a game-high 20 points from Brody Peebles. Zach Cleveland added a career-high 13 points, while Shiloh Robinson, Zander Yates and Gabriel McKay scored 10 points each. Yates and McKay's efforts were both career highs. All 11 Flames who saw playing time scored at least four points.
Mid-Atlantic Christian counted tonight's game as an exhibition and remains at 0-1 on its season.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Brody Peebles 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4-10 3FG, 4-4 FT; Zach Cleveland 13 points, 5-7 FG, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks; Shiloh Robinson 10 points, 9 rebounds; Gabriel McKay 10 points, 4-5 FG; Zander Yates 10 points
Mid-Atlantic Christian Individuals: Carter Robinson 9 points, 4-10 FG; Carlos Raven 8 points, 3-10 FG; Elijah Cox 7 points, 3-7 FG
Key Team Stats: The Flames shot 55.4 percent (36-of-55) in the game and exactly half of their three-pointers (17-of-34). Liberty's 17 triples are tied for the fifth most in a game in program history. The Liberty defense held MACU to 29.5 percent shooting (18-of-61) and forced 14 Mustangs turnovers. Liberty held edges in points off turnovers (26-7), points in the paint (38-20), second chance points (26-3), fast break points (11-4) and bench points (63-20). This is the second straight year the Flames scored at least 60 bench points in the season opener. Liberty outrebounded MACU 52-22, with five Flames grabbing five or more boards.
Thoughts From Head Coach Ritchie McKay
"Our group plays together. It's game one. I think we were a little burdened by expectations that we're supposed to be this or that. Every season is different. Every team is unique to the given season. There's different personalities that contribute to the chemistry and the togetherness and spirit of unity that they play with. Ours is evolving. Our foundation is tremendous. I think our guys did a good job of responding to a lot of adversity."
Turning Point
Liberty held a 15-14 lead at the 10:00 mark of the opening half before closing the half on a 33-5 run to take a commanding 48-19 lead. The Flames opened the second half with the first 15 points in the first 4:35 before a MACU basket at the 15:03 mark finally ended the run. Between the last 4:09 of the first half and first 4:57 of the second half (9:06 off the clock), Liberty scored 29 straight points.
During that run, Zach Cleveland led the charge with seven points, and Kyle Rode added six points on back-to-back threes early in the second half.
Key Stats & Notes
- Peebles' 20-point effort was his second career game with 20 or more points. His career high is 24 points, set last season at home against Southern Miss (Nov. 18, 2022). Peebles scored 17 points in last year's season opener versus Regent.
- Joseph Venzant and Shiloh Robinson led Liberty's dominant rebounding effort (52-22 edge) with nine rebounds apiece. The Flames' 52 rebounds are their most since securing 53 boards in a 76-75 triple overtime loss to UNCG at home on Dec. 2, 2017.
- This is the fifth time the Flames have scored 100 or more points at Liberty Arena. Liberty improves to 45-4 all-time at Liberty Arena.
- Liberty tallied 21 assists, led by five from point guard Colin Porter. Porter was a game-best +45 in the contest.
- JC Shirer Jr., who redshirted last season, saw game action for the first time as a Flame this evening and scored seven points. Shirer Jr. made both of his field goals. Bryson Spell scored a career-high six points and knocked down 2-of-2 three-point attempts. The redshirt sophomore also grabbed a career-best six boards.
- The Flames bolster their all-time mark in home openers to 52-10. Liberty is now 30-22 all-time in season openers, including a 9-2 record under McKay.
- Kaden Metheny made his Flames debut after spending the last three seasons at Bowling Green. The redshirt junior tallied five points and five boards.
- Liberty is 2-0 all-time versus MACU. The Flames topped the Mustangs 88-50 a season (Dec. 21, 2022) in their last game before Christmas.
Up Next
Liberty will return to action on Friday against the Charlotte 49ers (1-0) in the "He Gets Us" Hall of Fame Series in Charlotte, N.C. The Flames and 49ers will tip things off at 4:30 p.m. at the Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
Team Stats
MAC
Lib
FG%
.295
.554
3FG%
.200
.500
FT%
.667
.778
RB
22
52
TO
14
11
STL
8
7
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballStep Into My Office with Ritchie McKay
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Coach McKay, Kaden Metheny & Zach Cleveland Talk About The Game Against Oregon
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