
Freshman Brett Decker Jr. scored a game-high 18 points in his home debut.
Flames Down Bruins 81-45 in Home Opener
11/12/2024 10:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty Flames downed the visiting Carolina University Bruins 81-45 in their home opener, Tuesday evening at Liberty Arena.
Liberty improves to 3-0 for the second straight season. Carolina University's record remains 1-5 after the contest. The Bruins counted the game as an exhibition.
Flames freshman Brett Decker Jr. scored a career-high 18 points in his home debut, leading all scorers on the night. Making his first start in a Liberty uniform, fifth-year senior Taelon Peter added 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
Liberty improves to 12-0 all-time in home openers under head coach Ritchie McKay. The Flames are 5-0 in home openers at Liberty Arena.
Liberty Individuals: Brett Decker Jr. 18 points, 4-10 3FG, 4-4 FT, 3 assists; Taelon Peter 12 points, 5-8 FG, 2 steals; Zach Cleveland 7 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists; Kai Yu 7 points, 6 rebounds
Carolina University Individuals: Cameron Buchanan 9 points, 3-6 FG; Chris High 8 points, 6 rebounds; Zivko Damjanovic 6 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals
Key Team Stats: Liberty assisted on 22 of its 28 made field goals. The Liberty defense held Carolina University to 32.6 percent (15-of-46) from the field. The Flames attempted 45 three-pointers on the night, their most in a game in program history. Brett Decker Jr. led the way with four made threes. Liberty's 22 assists are its most in a game since dishing out 22 assists at home against New Mexico State last season (Feb. 29, 2024). Liberty's bench scored 51 points, compared to 22 for the Bruins. The Flames never trailed in the game, leading for 39:10 of the 40 minutes (tied for 50 seconds).The Liberty defense forced 25 turnovers. The Flames committed only three turnovers, tied for the fewest turnovers committed in a single game in program history.
Turning Point
Liberty raced out to a 19-3 lead in the game's first seven-plus minutes and never looked back. In the early going, the Flames built up a 14-0 lead, turning defense into offense. Liberty forced six Carolina University turnovers in the opening 3:55, leading to some easy transition baskets. Taelon Peter put Liberty on the board with a layup and then a fast break dunk, assisted by Colin Porter, at the 18:31 mark. Liberty pushed the lead to double digits, 11-0, at the 16:40 following a highlight-reel dunk in transition from Peter. Maughmer capped off the 14-0 start to the game with a three from the left wing at the 15:46 mark.
The Flames never led by less than 13 points the rest of the way. All 13 Flames who dressed tonight saw more than 11 minutes of action.
Key Stats & Notes
Up Next
Liberty will be back in action on Saturday night against Florida Atlantic (2-1) at the Field of 68 Media Network Tip-Off Event. The neutral-site game will begin at 6 p.m. at Charleston's TD Arena. On Sunday, the Flames will face the Charleston Cougars (2-0) at 4 p.m. to close out the Field of 68 Media Network Tip-Off Event.
This is the second year of the event, a three-year round robin series between three of the top mid-major programs in college basketball. Last year, FAU hosted the inaugural event, and Liberty will play host to the event in 2025.
Liberty improves to 3-0 for the second straight season. Carolina University's record remains 1-5 after the contest. The Bruins counted the game as an exhibition.
Flames freshman Brett Decker Jr. scored a career-high 18 points in his home debut, leading all scorers on the night. Making his first start in a Liberty uniform, fifth-year senior Taelon Peter added 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
Liberty improves to 12-0 all-time in home openers under head coach Ritchie McKay. The Flames are 5-0 in home openers at Liberty Arena.
Liberty Individuals: Brett Decker Jr. 18 points, 4-10 3FG, 4-4 FT, 3 assists; Taelon Peter 12 points, 5-8 FG, 2 steals; Zach Cleveland 7 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists; Kai Yu 7 points, 6 rebounds
Carolina University Individuals: Cameron Buchanan 9 points, 3-6 FG; Chris High 8 points, 6 rebounds; Zivko Damjanovic 6 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals
Key Team Stats: Liberty assisted on 22 of its 28 made field goals. The Liberty defense held Carolina University to 32.6 percent (15-of-46) from the field. The Flames attempted 45 three-pointers on the night, their most in a game in program history. Brett Decker Jr. led the way with four made threes. Liberty's 22 assists are its most in a game since dishing out 22 assists at home against New Mexico State last season (Feb. 29, 2024). Liberty's bench scored 51 points, compared to 22 for the Bruins. The Flames never trailed in the game, leading for 39:10 of the 40 minutes (tied for 50 seconds).The Liberty defense forced 25 turnovers. The Flames committed only three turnovers, tied for the fewest turnovers committed in a single game in program history.
Turning Point
Liberty raced out to a 19-3 lead in the game's first seven-plus minutes and never looked back. In the early going, the Flames built up a 14-0 lead, turning defense into offense. Liberty forced six Carolina University turnovers in the opening 3:55, leading to some easy transition baskets. Taelon Peter put Liberty on the board with a layup and then a fast break dunk, assisted by Colin Porter, at the 18:31 mark. Liberty pushed the lead to double digits, 11-0, at the 16:40 following a highlight-reel dunk in transition from Peter. Maughmer capped off the 14-0 start to the game with a three from the left wing at the 15:46 mark.
The Flames never led by less than 13 points the rest of the way. All 13 Flames who dressed tonight saw more than 11 minutes of action.
Key Stats & Notes
- All 13 Flames who appeared in tonight's game got into the scoring column.
- Brett Decker Jr. is the first Liberty freshman to score at least 18 points in a game since Colin Porter poured in a career-high 25 points as a freshman in the Flames' win over Eastern Kentucky in the 2023 ASUN Championship semifinal round at Liberty Arena (March 2, 2023).
- Porter matched a career high with five steals in the game, also tying a Liberty Arena record for a Flame. The facility record is six steals. Porter dished out a game-high six assists as well.
- Zach Cleveland eclipsed the 500-point mark for his career. The junior entered the night with 499 points and finished with seven points, six rebounds and four assists.
- Redshirt freshman Kai Yu notched career highs in points (7) and rebounds (6).
- Redshirt freshman Curtis Blair III (five points) scored his first collegiate points tonight. His first career basket was a three-pointer with 12:24 to play in the opening half.
- The Flames are 3-0 on the season for the second straight year. Liberty opened last year by winning its first six games.
- Liberty bolsters its all-time record in home openers to 43-10.
Up Next
Liberty will be back in action on Saturday night against Florida Atlantic (2-1) at the Field of 68 Media Network Tip-Off Event. The neutral-site game will begin at 6 p.m. at Charleston's TD Arena. On Sunday, the Flames will face the Charleston Cougars (2-0) at 4 p.m. to close out the Field of 68 Media Network Tip-Off Event.
This is the second year of the event, a three-year round robin series between three of the top mid-major programs in college basketball. Last year, FAU hosted the inaugural event, and Liberty will play host to the event in 2025.
Team Stats
PI
Lib
FG%
.326
.406
3FG%
.429
.289
FT%
1.000
.706
RB
34
38
TO
25
3
STL
3
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Players Mentioned
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