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Friday, November 22
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
5:30 PM ET/6:30 PM AT
Liberty University
5-1,0-0CUSA
89
vs
69
Louisiana
1-4,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
F
Louisiana
32
37
69
Liberty
45
44
89
Record Shooting Night Lifts Liberty to 89-69 Win Over Louisiana at Paradise Jam
11/22/2024 9:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – A record shooting night lifted Liberty to an 89-69 win over Louisiana in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paradise Jam, Friday night at the UVI Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center.
Liberty shot 67.3 percent from the field (33-of-49), a new single-game program record in the Division I era. The previous record was a 66 percent effort (35-of-53) in a 108-65 home win over Alcorn State on Dec. 20, 2020. Tonight's shooting performance also set a new Paradise Jam record. The Paradise Jam is in its 25th edition.
Liberty improves to 5-1 on the year and will move on to face either Kansas State (3-1) or George Washington (4-0) in the semifinals on Sunday night at 8 p.m. Eastern (9 p.m. Atlantic). Louisiana falls to 1-4 this season and has dropped three straight games. The Ragin' Cajuns will face either Kansas State or George Washington in the consolation bracket tomorrow.
Six Flames scored in double figures, led by Kaden Metheny with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Zach Cleveland added 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
Liberty Individuals: Kaden Metheny 20 points, 7-10 FG, 4-6 3FG; Zach Cleveland 12 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists; Taelon Peter 12 points, 5-8 FG, 5 rebounds; Owen Aquino 12 points, 5-7 FG, 3 assists; Isaiah Ihnen 12 points, 5-7 FG; Colin Porter 10 points
Louisiana Individuals: Christian Wright 21 points, 5-5 3FG; Koron Davis 13 points, 6-10 FG; Kyndall Davis 10 points, 4 assists
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 67.3 percent (33-of-49) for the game. The Flames made more than double the amount of shots (33) than they missed (16). The Flames assisted on 19 of their 33 baskets and were 9-of-18 (50 percent) from long distance. Louisiana was 25-of-56 (44.6 percent) from the field and 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from deep. The Flames committed 15 turnovers and struggled from the foul line, making only 60.9 percent (14-of-23) of their attempts from the charity stripe. Louisiana committed only eight turnovers and was 11-of-13 (84.6 percent) from the free throw line. Liberty dominated inside the paint, holding a 46-30 advantage in points in the paint. Liberty also led in bench points, 28-21. Liberty held a 33-18 advantage in rebounding. The Flames led for 36:03 of the 40 minutes. Louisiana led for only 1:50.
Turning Point
Liberty used a 20-5 first half run to distance itself from Louisiana. Trailing 9-8, the Flames' run from the 14:56 mark to the 8:46 mark made it a 28-14 game. The Cajuns never got as close as 11, 41-30, with 1:43 left in the half but never cut the deficit to single digits the rest of the way.
Leading 45-32 at intermission, the Flames opened the second half with a 15-5 run over the first 5:44 to boost the lead to 23, 60-37.
Key Stats & Notes
The Flames will square off with either Kansas State (3-1) or George Washington (4-0) in the semifinals on Sunday night at 8 p.m. Eastern (9 p.m. Atlantic).
Liberty shot 67.3 percent from the field (33-of-49), a new single-game program record in the Division I era. The previous record was a 66 percent effort (35-of-53) in a 108-65 home win over Alcorn State on Dec. 20, 2020. Tonight's shooting performance also set a new Paradise Jam record. The Paradise Jam is in its 25th edition.
Liberty improves to 5-1 on the year and will move on to face either Kansas State (3-1) or George Washington (4-0) in the semifinals on Sunday night at 8 p.m. Eastern (9 p.m. Atlantic). Louisiana falls to 1-4 this season and has dropped three straight games. The Ragin' Cajuns will face either Kansas State or George Washington in the consolation bracket tomorrow.
Six Flames scored in double figures, led by Kaden Metheny with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Zach Cleveland added 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
Liberty Individuals: Kaden Metheny 20 points, 7-10 FG, 4-6 3FG; Zach Cleveland 12 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists; Taelon Peter 12 points, 5-8 FG, 5 rebounds; Owen Aquino 12 points, 5-7 FG, 3 assists; Isaiah Ihnen 12 points, 5-7 FG; Colin Porter 10 points
Louisiana Individuals: Christian Wright 21 points, 5-5 3FG; Koron Davis 13 points, 6-10 FG; Kyndall Davis 10 points, 4 assists
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 67.3 percent (33-of-49) for the game. The Flames made more than double the amount of shots (33) than they missed (16). The Flames assisted on 19 of their 33 baskets and were 9-of-18 (50 percent) from long distance. Louisiana was 25-of-56 (44.6 percent) from the field and 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from deep. The Flames committed 15 turnovers and struggled from the foul line, making only 60.9 percent (14-of-23) of their attempts from the charity stripe. Louisiana committed only eight turnovers and was 11-of-13 (84.6 percent) from the free throw line. Liberty dominated inside the paint, holding a 46-30 advantage in points in the paint. Liberty also led in bench points, 28-21. Liberty held a 33-18 advantage in rebounding. The Flames led for 36:03 of the 40 minutes. Louisiana led for only 1:50.
Turning Point
Liberty used a 20-5 first half run to distance itself from Louisiana. Trailing 9-8, the Flames' run from the 14:56 mark to the 8:46 mark made it a 28-14 game. The Cajuns never got as close as 11, 41-30, with 1:43 left in the half but never cut the deficit to single digits the rest of the way.
Leading 45-32 at intermission, the Flames opened the second half with a 15-5 run over the first 5:44 to boost the lead to 23, 60-37.
Key Stats & Notes
- Liberty's top seven players (by minutes played) all shot at least 60 percent from the floor tonight.
- The Flames shot 75 percent (18-of-24) in the first half and 60 percent (15-of-25) in the second half.
- Kaden Metheny notched his first 20-point game of the season, sixth of his Flames career and 11th of his overall career. Sixteen of Metheny's 20 points came in the second half. The guard was 5-of-6 from the field, 4-of-4 from three-point territory and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
- Liberty's shooting performance was the sixth best ever in school history. All of the top five performances came when the Flames were not yet at the Division I era. Liberty's best-ever shooting game is 73.1 percent (38-of-52), set against Mt. St. Mary's (NY) on Dec. 9, 1983.
- The Flames have won their last two games by a combined 41 points, defeating Louisiana by 20 tonight and Charleston by 21 last Sunday night in the Field of 68 Tip-Off event.
The Flames will square off with either Kansas State (3-1) or George Washington (4-0) in the semifinals on Sunday night at 8 p.m. Eastern (9 p.m. Atlantic).
Team Stats
LA
Lib
FG%
.446
.673
3FG%
.333
.500
FT%
.846
.609
RB
18
33
TO
8
15
STL
8
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
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