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Saturday, December 9
Lynchburg, Va.
2:00 PM ET
Liberty University
7-3,0-0CUSA
64
vs
69
Grand Canyon
8-1,2-0WAC
1
2
F
Grand Canyon
32
37
69
Liberty
32
32
64
GCU Edges Liberty 69-64, Snapping Flames’ 20-Game Home Win Streak
12/9/2023 6:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Grand Canyon edged Liberty 69-64 on Saturday afternoon, snapping the Flames' 20-game home winning streak in the process.
Liberty slips to 7-3 on the year and has dropped three of its last four games. Meanwhile, the GCU Antelopes improve to 8-1 and have won five straight.
Today's loss was the first setback for the Flames at home since falling 76-72 to Southern Miss on Nov. 18, 2022, a span of 386 days. Today's attendance of 4,052 is a new Liberty Arena record.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Kaden Metheny 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals; Colin Porter 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals; Zach Cleveland 11 points, 5-7 FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists; Kyle Rode 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists; Joseph Venzant 5 points, 11 rebounds
Grand Canyon Individuals: Gabe McGlothan 21 points, 9-10 FG, 7 rebounds; Ray Harrison 19 points, 10-10 FT; Tyon Grant-Foster 18 points, 7 rebounds, 7-9 FT
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 38.1 percent (24-of-63) from the field, 62.5 percent (10-of-16) from the free throw line and 24 percent (6-of-25) from three-point range. Meanwhile, GCU connected on 44.9 percent (22-of-49) of its field goal attempts and made 21-of-27 free throws (77.8 percent). The Flames held edges in points in the paint (30-26), bench pints (12-2) and second chance points (9-6). GCU held advantages in rebounding (38-35), points off turnovers (18-11) and fast break points (7-4).
Liberty led for 26:50, and GCU lead for 10:32. The game was tied for 2:38.
Thoughts From Head Coach Ritchie McKay
"I'm thankful for our fans. They had our arena rocking. That was a great atmosphere and fun college basketball atmosphere to be a part of, not so much to be on the wrong side of the scoreboard. Our guys are thankful and blessed to have an opportunity to play against such a quality opponent in the arena."
Turning Point
Liberty raced out to an early 23-6 lead in the first 8:08 of the game, knocking down 8-of-14 field goal attempts (57.1 percent) in the process. Gabriel McKay's four-point play at the 11:52 mark of the opening stanza gave the hosts the 17-point advantage. GCU responded with 15-0 run of its own over the next to get within two, 23-21, at the 5:06 mark. The Lopes took their first lead of the half, 29-28, on a three-point play from Tyon Grant-Foster at the 2:38 mark. GCU led 32-28 before the Flames closed with the final four points of the half, Kaden Metheny hit a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to knot the game at 32-all at the break.
The Flames' biggest lead of the second half was nine points (46-37). GCU used a 14-4 run to take a 51-50 edge at the 8:12 mark. The Lopes took their biggest lead of the afternoon, 62-55, with 2:33 left, but the Flames closed to within one with a six-point spurt. Shiloh Robinson's tip-in at the 1:18 mark cut the GCU lead to one, 62-61.
In the closing minute, Liberty had a chance to claim the lead, but Colin Porter's jumper rimmed in and out with 37 seconds left. GCU's Ray Harrison knocked down a pair of foul shots to bump the guests' lead up to three, 64-61. Porter split a pair of free throws to cut the GCU edge to two, 64-62, and Joseph Venzant collected Porter's missed second free throw. Venzant's follow-up attempt bounced off the rim. GCU converted 5-of-6 free throws in the closing 19.6 seconds, with Harrison knocking down 4-of-4, to secure the victory.
Key Stats & Notes
Liberty's next game will be at home against Tennessee State (6-3), Wednesday night at 8 p.m. This will be the second all-time meeting between the Flames and Tigers but first since Nov. 28, 2009. Liberty won the inaugural meeting by a 63-50 score in the Chicago Invitational.
Liberty slips to 7-3 on the year and has dropped three of its last four games. Meanwhile, the GCU Antelopes improve to 8-1 and have won five straight.
Today's loss was the first setback for the Flames at home since falling 76-72 to Southern Miss on Nov. 18, 2022, a span of 386 days. Today's attendance of 4,052 is a new Liberty Arena record.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Kaden Metheny 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals; Colin Porter 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals; Zach Cleveland 11 points, 5-7 FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists; Kyle Rode 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists; Joseph Venzant 5 points, 11 rebounds
Grand Canyon Individuals: Gabe McGlothan 21 points, 9-10 FG, 7 rebounds; Ray Harrison 19 points, 10-10 FT; Tyon Grant-Foster 18 points, 7 rebounds, 7-9 FT
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 38.1 percent (24-of-63) from the field, 62.5 percent (10-of-16) from the free throw line and 24 percent (6-of-25) from three-point range. Meanwhile, GCU connected on 44.9 percent (22-of-49) of its field goal attempts and made 21-of-27 free throws (77.8 percent). The Flames held edges in points in the paint (30-26), bench pints (12-2) and second chance points (9-6). GCU held advantages in rebounding (38-35), points off turnovers (18-11) and fast break points (7-4).
Liberty led for 26:50, and GCU lead for 10:32. The game was tied for 2:38.
Thoughts From Head Coach Ritchie McKay
"I'm thankful for our fans. They had our arena rocking. That was a great atmosphere and fun college basketball atmosphere to be a part of, not so much to be on the wrong side of the scoreboard. Our guys are thankful and blessed to have an opportunity to play against such a quality opponent in the arena."
Turning Point
Liberty raced out to an early 23-6 lead in the first 8:08 of the game, knocking down 8-of-14 field goal attempts (57.1 percent) in the process. Gabriel McKay's four-point play at the 11:52 mark of the opening stanza gave the hosts the 17-point advantage. GCU responded with 15-0 run of its own over the next to get within two, 23-21, at the 5:06 mark. The Lopes took their first lead of the half, 29-28, on a three-point play from Tyon Grant-Foster at the 2:38 mark. GCU led 32-28 before the Flames closed with the final four points of the half, Kaden Metheny hit a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to knot the game at 32-all at the break.
The Flames' biggest lead of the second half was nine points (46-37). GCU used a 14-4 run to take a 51-50 edge at the 8:12 mark. The Lopes took their biggest lead of the afternoon, 62-55, with 2:33 left, but the Flames closed to within one with a six-point spurt. Shiloh Robinson's tip-in at the 1:18 mark cut the GCU lead to one, 62-61.
In the closing minute, Liberty had a chance to claim the lead, but Colin Porter's jumper rimmed in and out with 37 seconds left. GCU's Ray Harrison knocked down a pair of foul shots to bump the guests' lead up to three, 64-61. Porter split a pair of free throws to cut the GCU edge to two, 64-62, and Joseph Venzant collected Porter's missed second free throw. Venzant's follow-up attempt bounced off the rim. GCU converted 5-of-6 free throws in the closing 19.6 seconds, with Harrison knocking down 4-of-4, to secure the victory.
Key Stats & Notes
- The previous attendance record at Liberty Arena prior to today was 4,043, set in the game against Eastern Kentucky in last year's ASUN Championship semifinals (March 2, 2023).
- Kaden Metheny led four Flames in double figures with 14 points. Metheny has scored in double figures in eight straight games.
- Liberty's 20-game home winning streak was the second longest in the nation entering the day, behind only UCLA (29 wins in a row). The Flames' longest winning streak at Liberty Arena is 22 games. Liberty's longest home winning streak ever is 45 victories in a row, spanning 23 games at the Vines Center and the first 22 games at Liberty Arena.
- Junior Joseph Venzant grabbed 11 rebounds and added five points. The guard matched a season high in rebounds and has grabbed 11 boards in three of his last five games. He is the team's leading rebounder at 8.0 rpg. Venzant became the 40th player in program history to reach 400 career rebounds. He now had 405 rebounds for his career, tied for 39th in school history.
- Kyle Rode knocked down two three-pointers today to get him to 199 career threes.
- Shiloh Robinson moved into 25th place in program history for career rebounds with 470. He grabbed five boards this afternoon.
- This is the Flames' first-ever loss to the Lopes. GCU and Liberty have split two all-time meetings.
- The Flames are 48-5 all-time at Liberty Arena. Liberty Arena is in its fourth year and opened prior to the start of the 2020-21 campaign.
Liberty's next game will be at home against Tennessee State (6-3), Wednesday night at 8 p.m. This will be the second all-time meeting between the Flames and Tigers but first since Nov. 28, 2009. Liberty won the inaugural meeting by a 63-50 score in the Chicago Invitational.
Team Stats
GCU
Lib
FG%
.449
.381
3FG%
.267
.240
FT%
.778
.625
RB
38
35
TO
14
9
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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