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Saturday, January 18
Lynchburg, Va.
7:00 PM ET
Liberty University
15-4,3-3CUSA
68
vs
60
New Mexico State
11-7,4-1CUSA
1
2
F
New Mexico St.
31
29
60
Liberty
34
34
68
Flames Knock Off CUSA-Leading Aggies 68-60
1/18/2025 10:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty Flames knocked off CUSA-leading New Mexico State 68-60 on Saturday night at Liberty Arena, giving the previously unbeaten Aggies their first CUSA loss.
Liberty snaps a two-game losing streak and moves to 15-4 on the year, 3-3 in Conference USA play and 8-2 in home games. Meanwhile, New Mexico State sees a seven-game overall winning streak snapped, falling to 11-7 on the year. The Aggies entered the game in first place in CUSA play at 4-0 and fall to 4-1 with the setback. NM State drops to 4-4 on the road.
Liberty Men's Basketball Head Coach Ritchie McKay earned his 259th win with the Flames tonight, tying Jeff Meyer (259 wins, 1981-97) for most victories as head coach in program history.
Colin Porter led four Flames in double figures with 14 points, followed by a trio of Liberty players with 11 points in Owen Aquino, Zach Cleveland and Taelon Peter. A stout Flames defense held NM State to 36.1 percent shooting on the night, over eight percent below the Aggies' season average (44.5 percent) coming in.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Colin Porter 14 points, 5-6 FT, 3 assists; Owen Aquino 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks; Zach Cleveland 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; Taelon Peter 11 points, 7 rebounds, Jayvon Maughmer 8 points, 3-5 FG, 4 rebounds; Kaden Metheny 7 points, 6 rebounds; Yates 6 points, 2-4 3FG
New Mexico State Individuals: Christian Cook 14 points, 6-18 FG; Peter Filipovity 12 points, 12 rebounds; Zawdie Jackson 12 points, 7-8 FT
Key Team Stats: Liberty finished the evening shooting 46.2 percent (24-of-52). The Flames shot 58.3 percent (14-of-24) in the first half in taking a 34-31 lead at the break. The Liberty defense held NM State to 36.1 percent shooting (22-of-61) for the game and 31.3 percent (10-of-32) in the second half. Both teams struggled from the three-point line, with Liberty connecting on a season-low three triples on 14 attempts (21.4 percent) and New Mexico State making only 18.2 percent (4-of-22). The Flames attempted a season-high 26 free throws, making 17 of those (65.4 percent). The Aggies shot 75 percent (12-of-16) from the foul line. Liberty dominated in the paint to the tune of a 42-26 advantage in points in the paint. The Flames held edges in points off turnovers (9-8), assists (10-9), and bench points (17-9). NM State outrebounded Liberty 39-35 and had 13 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second chance points compared to only three second chance points for the Flames.
Turning Point
Liberty led 34-31 at the half but struggled early in the second half, going 1-of-14 to open the frame. NM State took a 39-36 lead early in the final 20 minutes, but the Flames responded with an 8-2 run to go ahead 44-41 with 9:55 to play and never trailed the rest of the way.
Liberty led 47-46 before a 10-1 run put the hosts up nine, 56-47, with 4:18 remaining. NM State got within six, 56-50, with 3:07 remaining, but Flames guards Kaden Metheny and Colin Porter responded with layups on three straight possessions. Metheny made the first two, and Porter capped things off with a basket at the 1:15 mark for a 62-52 lead. Liberty was 6-of-8 from the foul line in the 53 seconds to preserve the victory.
Key Stats & Notes
Liberty will hit the road to face FIU (7-12, 1-5 CUSA) next Saturday. The Flames and Panthers will tip it off at 6 p.m. at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami, Fla. Liberty and FIU met twice last year, with the Panthers prevailing 76-71 on their home floor. The Flames bested the Panthers 78-69 at Liberty Arena.
Liberty snaps a two-game losing streak and moves to 15-4 on the year, 3-3 in Conference USA play and 8-2 in home games. Meanwhile, New Mexico State sees a seven-game overall winning streak snapped, falling to 11-7 on the year. The Aggies entered the game in first place in CUSA play at 4-0 and fall to 4-1 with the setback. NM State drops to 4-4 on the road.
Liberty Men's Basketball Head Coach Ritchie McKay earned his 259th win with the Flames tonight, tying Jeff Meyer (259 wins, 1981-97) for most victories as head coach in program history.
Colin Porter led four Flames in double figures with 14 points, followed by a trio of Liberty players with 11 points in Owen Aquino, Zach Cleveland and Taelon Peter. A stout Flames defense held NM State to 36.1 percent shooting on the night, over eight percent below the Aggies' season average (44.5 percent) coming in.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Colin Porter 14 points, 5-6 FT, 3 assists; Owen Aquino 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks; Zach Cleveland 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; Taelon Peter 11 points, 7 rebounds, Jayvon Maughmer 8 points, 3-5 FG, 4 rebounds; Kaden Metheny 7 points, 6 rebounds; Yates 6 points, 2-4 3FG
New Mexico State Individuals: Christian Cook 14 points, 6-18 FG; Peter Filipovity 12 points, 12 rebounds; Zawdie Jackson 12 points, 7-8 FT
Key Team Stats: Liberty finished the evening shooting 46.2 percent (24-of-52). The Flames shot 58.3 percent (14-of-24) in the first half in taking a 34-31 lead at the break. The Liberty defense held NM State to 36.1 percent shooting (22-of-61) for the game and 31.3 percent (10-of-32) in the second half. Both teams struggled from the three-point line, with Liberty connecting on a season-low three triples on 14 attempts (21.4 percent) and New Mexico State making only 18.2 percent (4-of-22). The Flames attempted a season-high 26 free throws, making 17 of those (65.4 percent). The Aggies shot 75 percent (12-of-16) from the foul line. Liberty dominated in the paint to the tune of a 42-26 advantage in points in the paint. The Flames held edges in points off turnovers (9-8), assists (10-9), and bench points (17-9). NM State outrebounded Liberty 39-35 and had 13 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second chance points compared to only three second chance points for the Flames.
Turning Point
Liberty led 34-31 at the half but struggled early in the second half, going 1-of-14 to open the frame. NM State took a 39-36 lead early in the final 20 minutes, but the Flames responded with an 8-2 run to go ahead 44-41 with 9:55 to play and never trailed the rest of the way.
Liberty led 47-46 before a 10-1 run put the hosts up nine, 56-47, with 4:18 remaining. NM State got within six, 56-50, with 3:07 remaining, but Flames guards Kaden Metheny and Colin Porter responded with layups on three straight possessions. Metheny made the first two, and Porter capped things off with a basket at the 1:15 mark for a 62-52 lead. Liberty was 6-of-8 from the foul line in the 53 seconds to preserve the victory.
Key Stats & Notes
- Taelon Peter (11 points) has scored in double figures in four straight games, all off the bench. The redshirt senior guard is averaging 19.8 ppg during that four-game stretch. Peter is averaging a team-best 16.0 ppg in six CUSA games.
- The Flames improve to 2-2 in league home contests this year.
- This is the first time in nearly six years that Liberty made only three three-pointers in a win. The Flames hit three triples in a 70-64 win over ASUN foe North Florida at the Vines Center. That Liberty team and tonight's Flames team were an identical 3-of-14 from long distance.
- Zander Yates and Gabriel McKay provided a big spark off the bench for the Flames. Yates knocked down two threes for six points and was a game-best +14 in only 11:53 of action. McKay was a +13, second best in the game, and grabbed two rebounds in 9:23 of action.
- Kaden Metheny grabbed a season-high six rebounds, while Taelon Peter led the Flames with seven boards.
- Liberty bolsters its all-time mark against NM State to 2-1.
- Saturday's outcome was reminiscent of a game last year in which Liberty knocked off Sam Houston 82-66 at home (Jan. 20, 2024), handing the Bearkats their first CUSA loss at the time.
- Flames head coach Ritchie McKay is 259-131 (.664) in 12 seasons in Lynchburg.
- NM State, Middle Tennessee and UTEP each sport 4-1 CUSA records atop the league. Liberty has now defeated two of those three – NM State and Middle Tennessee.
Liberty will hit the road to face FIU (7-12, 1-5 CUSA) next Saturday. The Flames and Panthers will tip it off at 6 p.m. at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami, Fla. Liberty and FIU met twice last year, with the Panthers prevailing 76-71 on their home floor. The Flames bested the Panthers 78-69 at Liberty Arena.
Team Stats
NMSU
Lib
FG%
.361
.462
3FG%
.182
.214
FT%
.750
.654
RB
39
35
TO
11
9
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
F
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Friday, March 21