
Taelon Peter finished with a game-high 20 points against UTEP, 17 of which came in the second half.
Late Basket Lifts UTEP to 72-70 CUSA Victory at Liberty
1/16/2025 11:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – UTEP's Ahamad Bynum hit the game-winning basket with 2.8 seconds remaining, lifting the Miners to a 72-70 Conference USA victory at Liberty on Thursday evening
UTEP bolsters its record to 13-4 overall and 3-1 in CUSA. Liberty slips to 14-4 and 2-3 in league play. The Flames drop to 1-2 in home conference games.
The Miners have topped the Flames in three straight meetings dating back to last year. Liberty's four losses this year have been by a combined 11 points. The Flames fall to 7-2 at home. Liberty has dropped its two home games by a total of three points.
Taelon Peter led the Liberty offense with a game-high 20 points and added six rebounds. Kaden Metheny finished with 17 points on the night. Seventeen of Peter's 20 points came in the second stanza, while 14 of Metheny's 17 points were before the break.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Taelon Peter 20 points, 6-11 FG, 5-5 FT, 6 rebounds; Kaden Metheny 17 points, 6-8 FG, 3-4 3FG; Owen Aquino 9 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists; Colin Porter 8 points, 4 assists; Zach Cleveland 7 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks
UTEP Individuals: Otis Frazier III 14 points, 4-4 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 steals; Ahamad Bynum 13 points, 5-10 FG, 4 rebounds; Corey Camper Jr. 12 points, 6 rebounds; Devon Barnes 10 points, 3-6 FG
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52) for the night and knocked down 39.3 percent (11-of-28) of its three-point shots. New Mexico State shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) in the game and made 8-of-20 (40 percent) three-pointers. This is the first time this season the Flames have lost a game (12-1) in which they have outshot their opponents. Liberty shot 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the foul line, compared to 80 percent (12-of-15) for UTEP. UTEP held narrow edges in rebounding (33-32), points in the paint (28-24) and second chance points. Liberty assisted on 19 of its 24 makes, while UTEP only had eight assists on 26 baskets. The Flames held edges in fast break points (13-11) and bench points (26-20). Liberty turned the ball over 12 times, compared to eight for UTEP. The Miners entered the night leading the nation in turnovers forced per game (18.38), and the Flames were over six turnovers below that average. The game featured12 lead changes and nine ties. Liberty led for 18:42, UTEP led for 16:33 and the game was tied for 4:45.
Turning Point
Liberty used a 7-0 run to go ahead 64-61 with 3:34 on the clock. Colin Porter hit the go-ahead three for a 62-61 lead with 4:03 remaining, followed by a Zach Cleveland layup on the next trip down. UTEP responded with the next five points, including a David Terrell Jr. triple with 1:49 on the clock to regain a two-point lead, 66-64. The Miners stretched the lead to five, 70-65, with 40 seconds to play on a Ahamad Bynum three.
Following a pair of Colin Porter free throws to trim the deficit to three (70-67), the Flames forced a turnover on an errant pass. On the ensuing trip down the court, freshman Brett Decker Jr. nailed the game-tying three with 11 seconds remaining. UTEP's Bynum buried a contested two from the left wing with 2.9 ticks left. Liberty had one final chance to tie the game or win it, but the Flames could not get a shot off before the horn sounded.
Key Stats & Notes
Liberty will face New Mexico State on Saturday evening at Liberty Arena. Tip time is 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+. The Aggies (11-6, 4-0 CUSA) are the only remaining unbeaten team in CUSA play.
The Flames and Aggies split a pair of matchups last year, with each team winning on its home court. Liberty bested New Mexico State 83-58 on Feb. 29, 2024 at Liberty Arena. The Flames fell 79-73 to the Aggies in overtime (Feb. 1, 2024) in the first meeting.
UTEP bolsters its record to 13-4 overall and 3-1 in CUSA. Liberty slips to 14-4 and 2-3 in league play. The Flames drop to 1-2 in home conference games.
The Miners have topped the Flames in three straight meetings dating back to last year. Liberty's four losses this year have been by a combined 11 points. The Flames fall to 7-2 at home. Liberty has dropped its two home games by a total of three points.
Taelon Peter led the Liberty offense with a game-high 20 points and added six rebounds. Kaden Metheny finished with 17 points on the night. Seventeen of Peter's 20 points came in the second stanza, while 14 of Metheny's 17 points were before the break.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Taelon Peter 20 points, 6-11 FG, 5-5 FT, 6 rebounds; Kaden Metheny 17 points, 6-8 FG, 3-4 3FG; Owen Aquino 9 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists; Colin Porter 8 points, 4 assists; Zach Cleveland 7 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks
UTEP Individuals: Otis Frazier III 14 points, 4-4 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 steals; Ahamad Bynum 13 points, 5-10 FG, 4 rebounds; Corey Camper Jr. 12 points, 6 rebounds; Devon Barnes 10 points, 3-6 FG
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52) for the night and knocked down 39.3 percent (11-of-28) of its three-point shots. New Mexico State shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) in the game and made 8-of-20 (40 percent) three-pointers. This is the first time this season the Flames have lost a game (12-1) in which they have outshot their opponents. Liberty shot 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the foul line, compared to 80 percent (12-of-15) for UTEP. UTEP held narrow edges in rebounding (33-32), points in the paint (28-24) and second chance points. Liberty assisted on 19 of its 24 makes, while UTEP only had eight assists on 26 baskets. The Flames held edges in fast break points (13-11) and bench points (26-20). Liberty turned the ball over 12 times, compared to eight for UTEP. The Miners entered the night leading the nation in turnovers forced per game (18.38), and the Flames were over six turnovers below that average. The game featured12 lead changes and nine ties. Liberty led for 18:42, UTEP led for 16:33 and the game was tied for 4:45.
Turning Point
Liberty used a 7-0 run to go ahead 64-61 with 3:34 on the clock. Colin Porter hit the go-ahead three for a 62-61 lead with 4:03 remaining, followed by a Zach Cleveland layup on the next trip down. UTEP responded with the next five points, including a David Terrell Jr. triple with 1:49 on the clock to regain a two-point lead, 66-64. The Miners stretched the lead to five, 70-65, with 40 seconds to play on a Ahamad Bynum three.
Following a pair of Colin Porter free throws to trim the deficit to three (70-67), the Flames forced a turnover on an errant pass. On the ensuing trip down the court, freshman Brett Decker Jr. nailed the game-tying three with 11 seconds remaining. UTEP's Bynum buried a contested two from the left wing with 2.9 ticks left. Liberty had one final chance to tie the game or win it, but the Flames could not get a shot off before the horn sounded.
Key Stats & Notes
- With 20 points off the bench tonight, Taelon Peter has scored 53 points (26.5 ppg) over his last two games. Peter is averaging a team-best 17.0 ppg through five CUSA games.
- Kaden Metheny had a standout first half with 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including a 3-of-3 mark from three-point territory. The guard notched his seventh game of the year with 17 or more points.
- Zach Cleveland (seven points, game-high-tying nine rebounds) notched his fourth game with nine or more rebounds this season.
- Gabriel McKay (three points) was a game-best +14 for the Flames in 10:17 of action. McKay was 1-of-2 from long distance tonight.
- Liberty has lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.
- The Flames fall to 64-9 all-time at Liberty Arena. Liberty 7-4 all-time in CUSA home contests.
Liberty will face New Mexico State on Saturday evening at Liberty Arena. Tip time is 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+. The Aggies (11-6, 4-0 CUSA) are the only remaining unbeaten team in CUSA play.
The Flames and Aggies split a pair of matchups last year, with each team winning on its home court. Liberty bested New Mexico State 83-58 on Feb. 29, 2024 at Liberty Arena. The Flames fell 79-73 to the Aggies in overtime (Feb. 1, 2024) in the first meeting.
Team Stats
UTEP
Lib
FG%
.433
.462
3FG%
.400
.393
FT%
.800
.647
RB
33
32
TO
8
12
STL
9
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
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