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Monday, November 25
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
8:00 PM ET/9:00 PM AT
Liberty University
7-1,0-0CUSA
62
vs
58
McNeese
4-3,0-0Southland
1
2
F
McNeese
29
29
58
Liberty
29
33
62
Liberty Holds Off McNeese 62-58 to Claim Paradise Jam Title
11/25/2024 11:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Liberty held off McNeese by a 62-58 score to win the 2024 Paradise Jam title on Monday evening.
The Flames improve to 7-1 with the win and now have a four-game winning streak after going 3-0 at the four-day event, held at the Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center. McNeese drops to 4-3 with the setback. Liberty defeated Louisiana (quarterfinals), Kansas State (semifinals) and McNeese (final) on the way to claiming the title.
Liberty junior point guard Colin Porter was named Paradise Jam MVP and earned a nod on the All-Tournament team after scoring a game-high 16 points tonight. Meanwhile, Kaden Metheny was tabbed to the All-Tournament team as well. Porter averaged 14.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 65.2 percent (15-of-23) from the floor and 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from three-point territory. Metheny averaged 13.0 ppg and scored a season-best 20 points against Louisiana on Friday.
Liberty Individuals: Colin Porter 16 points 4-8 3FG, 4-4 FT, 5 rebounds, 5 assists; Jayvon Maughmer 12 points; Owen Aquino 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block; Zach Cleveland 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal; Isaiah Ihnen 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block
McNeese Individuals: Christian Shumate 13 points, 6-8 FG, 5 rebounds; Sincere Parker 12 points; Quadir Copeland 11 points, 7 rebounds
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 41.7 percent (20-of-48) on the evening and knocked down 11 threes on 31 attempts (35.5 percent). McNeese shot 44.7 percent (21-of-47) from the field but made only 1-of-12 threes (8.3 percent). Both teams shot well from the foul line, with Liberty going 11-of-14 (78.6 percent) and McNeese going 15-of-18 (83.3 percent). The Flames notched 14 assists, compared to only five for the Cowboys. McNeese held edges in points off turnovers (19-7), points in the paint (30-18), second chance points (11-10) and bench points (25-12). McNeese committed 13 turnovers, and Liberty had 12 on the night.
Thoughts From Head Coach Ritchie McKay
"Any time you are able to win a championship, that's a gift. I was really proud of our group. We didn't have a whole lot in the tank. We only played seven. To give the effort that they did speaks to their character. It speaks to the eight guys that didn't get in and how incredible they were on the bench. We weren't our normal selves, but I don't think they were either because of the taxation and the turnaround. I do think it was a good basketball game, and our guys found a way and responded."
Turning Point
Liberty led by as many as 11 (48-37) in the second half before McNeese turned up the pressure to cut into the lead and eventually get within three, 54-51, on a pair of Quadir Copeland free throws with 3:22 left.
Colin Porter hit a crucial three-pointer at the 2:32 mark to double the lead, 57-51, but the Cowboys responded with a 5-0 run to cap the lead to just one (57-56) with 1:05 left. Porter calmly buried a pair of free throws with 58 seconds left to up the lead to 59-56, but Sincere Parker answered on the other end with a basket just seven seconds later to get McNeese back within one. Following a Porter missed three on the next possession, the Cowboys' Brandon Murray was fouled on an offensive rebound and stepped to the line with a one-and-one opportunity with 15 seconds on the clock.
Murray missed the front end, and the Flames' Owen Aquino grabbed the rebound. Isaiah Ihnen went to the line for Liberty and made the first for a 60-58 lead but missed the second. McNeese collected the rebound, and Javohn Garcia drove into the lane in an attempt to tie the game, but Ihnen blocked the shot with four seconds remaining, grabbed the rebound and gave the ball to Jayvon Maughmer with only two seconds left. Maughmer buried both free throws to clinch the 62-58 victory.
Key Stats & Notes
The Flames will return to Liberty Arena on Friday to face Central Penn. Tip time is 4 p.m., and the game can be seen on ESPN+. This will be Liberty's second home game of the 2024-25 season and first since facing Carolina University in the home opener, Nov. 12.
The Flames improve to 7-1 with the win and now have a four-game winning streak after going 3-0 at the four-day event, held at the Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center. McNeese drops to 4-3 with the setback. Liberty defeated Louisiana (quarterfinals), Kansas State (semifinals) and McNeese (final) on the way to claiming the title.
Liberty junior point guard Colin Porter was named Paradise Jam MVP and earned a nod on the All-Tournament team after scoring a game-high 16 points tonight. Meanwhile, Kaden Metheny was tabbed to the All-Tournament team as well. Porter averaged 14.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 65.2 percent (15-of-23) from the floor and 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from three-point territory. Metheny averaged 13.0 ppg and scored a season-best 20 points against Louisiana on Friday.
victory vibes are high ?? pic.twitter.com/ASJlK9iLHW
— Liberty Men's Basketball (@LibertyMBB) November 26, 2024
Liberty Individuals: Colin Porter 16 points 4-8 3FG, 4-4 FT, 5 rebounds, 5 assists; Jayvon Maughmer 12 points; Owen Aquino 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block; Zach Cleveland 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal; Isaiah Ihnen 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block
McNeese Individuals: Christian Shumate 13 points, 6-8 FG, 5 rebounds; Sincere Parker 12 points; Quadir Copeland 11 points, 7 rebounds
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 41.7 percent (20-of-48) on the evening and knocked down 11 threes on 31 attempts (35.5 percent). McNeese shot 44.7 percent (21-of-47) from the field but made only 1-of-12 threes (8.3 percent). Both teams shot well from the foul line, with Liberty going 11-of-14 (78.6 percent) and McNeese going 15-of-18 (83.3 percent). The Flames notched 14 assists, compared to only five for the Cowboys. McNeese held edges in points off turnovers (19-7), points in the paint (30-18), second chance points (11-10) and bench points (25-12). McNeese committed 13 turnovers, and Liberty had 12 on the night.
Thoughts From Head Coach Ritchie McKay
"Any time you are able to win a championship, that's a gift. I was really proud of our group. We didn't have a whole lot in the tank. We only played seven. To give the effort that they did speaks to their character. It speaks to the eight guys that didn't get in and how incredible they were on the bench. We weren't our normal selves, but I don't think they were either because of the taxation and the turnaround. I do think it was a good basketball game, and our guys found a way and responded."
Turning Point
Liberty led by as many as 11 (48-37) in the second half before McNeese turned up the pressure to cut into the lead and eventually get within three, 54-51, on a pair of Quadir Copeland free throws with 3:22 left.
Colin Porter hit a crucial three-pointer at the 2:32 mark to double the lead, 57-51, but the Cowboys responded with a 5-0 run to cap the lead to just one (57-56) with 1:05 left. Porter calmly buried a pair of free throws with 58 seconds left to up the lead to 59-56, but Sincere Parker answered on the other end with a basket just seven seconds later to get McNeese back within one. Following a Porter missed three on the next possession, the Cowboys' Brandon Murray was fouled on an offensive rebound and stepped to the line with a one-and-one opportunity with 15 seconds on the clock.
Murray missed the front end, and the Flames' Owen Aquino grabbed the rebound. Isaiah Ihnen went to the line for Liberty and made the first for a 60-58 lead but missed the second. McNeese collected the rebound, and Javohn Garcia drove into the lane in an attempt to tie the game, but Ihnen blocked the shot with four seconds remaining, grabbed the rebound and gave the ball to Jayvon Maughmer with only two seconds left. Maughmer buried both free throws to clinch the 62-58 victory.
Key Stats & Notes
- This is the second straight year Liberty has won an in-season tournament. Last November, the Flames went 3-0 on the way to claiming the 2023 Myrtle Beach Invitational crown.
- Four of Liberty's eight games have been decided by four points or less. The Flames are 3-1 in those contests.
- This is the first time in Colin Porter's career he has had two 16-plus point games in a row. The junior had 17 points in last night's win over Kansas State and 16 points tonight against McNeese.
- Liberty averaged 72.7 points per game in the three games at the Paradise Jam and allowed 64.0 points per game. The Flames shot 51.3 percent from the field and 42 percent from the three-point line.
- The Flames held seven of their eight opponents this year below 70 points.
- Liberty and McNeese were tied 29-29 at half. After the Cowboys scored the opening bucket of the second frame, the Flames went on a 17-4 run to build a 46-35 advantage.
- The Liberty defense held McNeese (79.3 ppg coming in) over 21 points below its season scoring average.
- Jayvon Maughmer scored nine of his 12 points after the break, including the first seven points of the second half for the Flames.
- Zach Cleveland grabbed six rebounds tonight, moving him into 50th place in program history for career rebounds with 352.
- This is the second consecutive season the Flames are 7-1 through eight games.
- This is the Flames' first-ever win over the Cowboys. McNeese won the first two meetings, but the last meeting was in 2005 prior to tonight.
The Flames will return to Liberty Arena on Friday to face Central Penn. Tip time is 4 p.m., and the game can be seen on ESPN+. This will be Liberty's second home game of the 2024-25 season and first since facing Carolina University in the home opener, Nov. 12.
Team Stats
McN
Lib
FG%
.447
.417
3FG%
.083
.355
FT%
.833
.786
RB
31
26
TO
13
12
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
G
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