Zach Cleveland averaged 22.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 7.0 apg, 1.5 bpg and 1.5 spg in two games against the Aggies last season..
MBB Game Day: New Mexico State
1/17/2025 3:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game Day Coverage
- Liberty vs. New Mexico State (Liberty Arena)
- Tipoff: Saturday at 7:02 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN+
- Radio: LFSN Radio
- Live Stats
- Liberty (14-4, 2-3 CUSA) will host CUSA leader New Mexico State (11-6, 4-0 CUSA), Saturday night. The Flames and Aggies met three times last year, with each team winning on its home floor.
- The Flames dropped the first one to the Aggies by a 79-73 score in overtime on the road (Feb. 1, 2024). Zach Cleveland finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks. Kaden Metheny added 16 points. Liberty rebounded with an 83-58 home triumph over NM State at Liberty Arena four weeks later (Feb. 29, 2024). Cleveland had another strong showing with 22 points, eight boards and seven assists. The Flames led 38-32 at the break before outscoring the Aggies 45-26 in the second half for the 25-point victory. Liberty shot 53.4 percent from the floor and outrebounded NM State 40-25.
- Liberty is looking to snap a two-game losing streak. The Flames fell narrowly to UTEP by a 72-70 score on Thursday. The Aggies remained the only unbeaten team in the league with a 59-52 win at FIU.
- The Flames' two CUSA home losses are by a combined three points. On the year, Liberty is 3-4 in games decided by five points or less.
- Taelon Peter led the way with 20 points off the bench against UTEP. Peter is averaging 26.5 ppg over his last two games. Kaden Metheny added 17 points, his seventh game this year with 17 or more points.
- In two games last year against the Aggies, Zach Cleveland averaged 22.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 7.0 apg, 1.5 bpg and 1.5 spg. He shot 68 percent from the field and 84.6 percent from the foul line in those two matchups.
- Saturday night's matchup pits the two top scoring defenses in the league in the Flames (61.6 ppg allowed) and Aggies (67.2 ppg allowed). Liberty is ninth nationally in scoring defense and ranks in the top 15 in the country and also first in CUSA in fewest fouls per game (No. 5, 12.7), effective field goal percentage (No. 7, 58.6), scoring margin (No. 11, 17.3), threes per game (No. 14, 10.7) and assist/turnover ratio (No. 15, 1.68).
- Liberty's four losses this season have been by a combined 11 points. The Flames' average margin of victory in their 14 wins is 23.1 points (80.9 ppg-57.9 ppg).
- Liberty is 84th in the nation in the current NCAA Men's Basketball NET Rankings. The Flames debuted at No. 53 in the first set of rankings on Dec. 2. Liberty is also No. 81 in the KenPom rankings. New Mexico State is No. 128 in the NET and No. 124 in KenPom.
- Head coach Ritchie McKay (258-131 at Liberty) is one win from tying the Liberty men's basketball record for victories as head coach. Jeff Meyer (259 wins, 1981-97) holds the record, and McKay's next victory will tie Meyer.
- Kaden Metheny ranks 19th in the nation in threes per game (3.24) and 21st in total threes (55). He is second in CUSA in both categories.
- Colin Porter ranks 24th in the country and second in CUSA in assist/turnover ratio (3.08).
- Taelon Peter is the Flames' leading scorer (17.0 ppg) in conference play so far. He is shooting 54 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from three-point land in those four games.
- This will be Liberty's 17th all-time game on Jan. 18 and second straight year the Flames will play on this date. The Flames hold a 7-9 record on Jan. 18 but have won three straight. Liberty played on this date last season, a 78-69 CUSA home triumph over the FIU Panthers at Liberty Arena. The win was the Flames' first-ever CUSA triumph. The Flames assisted on 26 of their 27 made field goals (96.3 percent) on the night and knocked down 16 threes on 33 attempts (48.5 percent).
- Liberty is 97-10 at home in the last six-and-a-half seasons.
- Liberty is ranked No. 8 in the College Insider Men's Mid-Major Top 25®. The Flames were ranked No. 6 last week and listed at No. 3 in back-to-back weeks prior to that. New Mexico State is 23rd in the Mid-Major Top 25®.
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