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Thursday, January 2
Lynchburg, Va.
7:00 PM ET
Liberty University
12-2,0-1CUSA
70
vs
71
Western Kentucky
10-4,1-0CUSA
1
2
F
Western Ky.
21
50
71
Liberty
35
35
70
Aquino finished with 12 points, 10 boards and six assists vs. WKU.
Western Kentucky Comes Back to Edge Liberty 71-70 in CUSA Opener
1/2/2025 10:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Western Kentucky came back in the second half to edge Liberty 71-70 in both teams' Conference USA opener, Thursday evening at Liberty Arena.
The Flames (12-2) see a nine-game winning streak snapped and fall to 0-1 in CUSA play. Liberty also suffers its first home loss of the 2024-25 season, falling to 6-1 on its home floor. The Hilltoppers (10-4) pick up their 10th win of the season after narrowly defeating the Flames in the CUSA opener for a second straight year. Last year, WKU edged Liberty 70-68 in Bowling Green, Ky. in what was the Flames' inaugural CUSA contest.
WKU staged a furious comeback in the final 5:30 of the second half to pull out the victory. The Flames had one final chance to win the game following a steal in the final five seconds, but Kaden Metheny's game-winning three-point attempt at the horn would not fall.
Zach Cleveland paced the Flames, matching a game high with 18 points while adding nine rebounds and four assists. Kaden Metheny finished with 17 points, while Owen Aquino notched his third double-double with 12 points and 10 boards while adding a game-high six assists.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Zach Cleveland 18 points, 9-18 FG, 9 rebounds, 4 assists; Kaden Metheny 17 points, 4-10 3FG, 2 steals; Owen Aquino 12 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists; Jayvon Maughmer 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals; Taelon Peter 9 points, 7 rebounds
Western Kentucky Individuals: Julius Thedford 18 points, 5 rebounds; Tyrone Marshall 12 points, 6-7 FG, 8 rebounds; Don McHenry 12 points, 6 rebounds; Khristian Lander 10 points, 3-4 3FG
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 43.5 percent for the game, knocking down 27-of-62 shots. The Flames hit only 8-of-27 threes (29.6 percent). WKU shot 45.2 percent (28-of-62) on the night and 50 percent (20-of-40) in the second half. After scoring only 21 points in the first half, the Hilltoppers put up 50 points in the second stanza. The Flames scored 35 points in both halves. WKU won the rebounding battle 45-35 and had 12 offensive boards, compared to seven for Liberty. Liberty held a 15-9 edge in assists. The Hilltoppers scored 46 points in the paint, compared to 38 for the Flames. Liberty committed nine turnovers on the night, but eight of those were in the second half. WKU had 14 turnovers on the night, only five of which came in the final 20 minutes.
Turning Point
Liberty led 62-50 with 5:32 on the clock following an Owen Aquino basket in the paint before Western Kentucky went on a 17-3 run to take the lead for the first time. The Hilltoppers closed the run with a Don McHenry putback at the 1:50 mark, followed by a Julius Thedford three-point play to give the guests a 67-65 lead with 1:17 left, their first lead of the game.
On the next Liberty possession, Kaden Metheny knocked down a pair of free throws with 56 seconds remaining to knot the game at 67-all. WKU answered with a big three from Julius Thedford to regain the lead, 70-67 with 32 seconds to go. Following a pair of missed free throws from the Flames, Thedford split a pair of free throws for a four-point WKU edge (71-67) with 17 seconds left. Metheny got the Flames back within onre, 71-70, after a high-arcing triple with six seconds remaining. Liberty's Taelon Peter came up with a steal in the closing seconds and found Metheny on the right wing for the potential game-winning three, but Metheny's triple hit off the right iron.
Key Stats & Notes
The Flames will wrap up a seven-game homestand with another CUSA matchup against Middle Tennessee, Saturday evening. Tip time between Liberty (12-2, 0-1 CUSA) and MTSU (10-4, 1-0 CUSA) is set for 6 p.m. at Liberty Arena and can be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network. The Blue Raiders edged FIU 73-69 tonight in Miami, Fla.
The Flames and Blue Raiders split a pair of meetings last year, with each squad winning on its respective home floor. Liberty bested MTSU 88-53 at Liberty Arena in what was the first-ever meeting between the two schools (Feb. 8, 2024). In the second meeting less than a month later (March 5, 2024), the Blue Raiders prevailed 69-61 on their home floor.
The Flames (12-2) see a nine-game winning streak snapped and fall to 0-1 in CUSA play. Liberty also suffers its first home loss of the 2024-25 season, falling to 6-1 on its home floor. The Hilltoppers (10-4) pick up their 10th win of the season after narrowly defeating the Flames in the CUSA opener for a second straight year. Last year, WKU edged Liberty 70-68 in Bowling Green, Ky. in what was the Flames' inaugural CUSA contest.
WKU staged a furious comeback in the final 5:30 of the second half to pull out the victory. The Flames had one final chance to win the game following a steal in the final five seconds, but Kaden Metheny's game-winning three-point attempt at the horn would not fall.
Zach Cleveland paced the Flames, matching a game high with 18 points while adding nine rebounds and four assists. Kaden Metheny finished with 17 points, while Owen Aquino notched his third double-double with 12 points and 10 boards while adding a game-high six assists.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Zach Cleveland 18 points, 9-18 FG, 9 rebounds, 4 assists; Kaden Metheny 17 points, 4-10 3FG, 2 steals; Owen Aquino 12 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists; Jayvon Maughmer 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals; Taelon Peter 9 points, 7 rebounds
Western Kentucky Individuals: Julius Thedford 18 points, 5 rebounds; Tyrone Marshall 12 points, 6-7 FG, 8 rebounds; Don McHenry 12 points, 6 rebounds; Khristian Lander 10 points, 3-4 3FG
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 43.5 percent for the game, knocking down 27-of-62 shots. The Flames hit only 8-of-27 threes (29.6 percent). WKU shot 45.2 percent (28-of-62) on the night and 50 percent (20-of-40) in the second half. After scoring only 21 points in the first half, the Hilltoppers put up 50 points in the second stanza. The Flames scored 35 points in both halves. WKU won the rebounding battle 45-35 and had 12 offensive boards, compared to seven for Liberty. Liberty held a 15-9 edge in assists. The Hilltoppers scored 46 points in the paint, compared to 38 for the Flames. Liberty committed nine turnovers on the night, but eight of those were in the second half. WKU had 14 turnovers on the night, only five of which came in the final 20 minutes.
Turning Point
Liberty led 62-50 with 5:32 on the clock following an Owen Aquino basket in the paint before Western Kentucky went on a 17-3 run to take the lead for the first time. The Hilltoppers closed the run with a Don McHenry putback at the 1:50 mark, followed by a Julius Thedford three-point play to give the guests a 67-65 lead with 1:17 left, their first lead of the game.
On the next Liberty possession, Kaden Metheny knocked down a pair of free throws with 56 seconds remaining to knot the game at 67-all. WKU answered with a big three from Julius Thedford to regain the lead, 70-67 with 32 seconds to go. Following a pair of missed free throws from the Flames, Thedford split a pair of free throws for a four-point WKU edge (71-67) with 17 seconds left. Metheny got the Flames back within onre, 71-70, after a high-arcing triple with six seconds remaining. Liberty's Taelon Peter came up with a steal in the closing seconds and found Metheny on the right wing for the potential game-winning three, but Metheny's triple hit off the right iron.
Key Stats & Notes
- The loss snaps a seven-game home winning streak for the Flames that dated back to the final game of the 2023-24 season, an 82-79 victory over WKU.
- Liberty led by as many as 16 on the night. The Flames' biggest lead was 33-17 at the 2:11 mark of the first half following a Jayvon Maughmer three on a second chance opportunity.
- The Flames led for 37:27 of the 40 minutes. The Hilltoppers led for only 54 seconds, while the game was tied for 1:39.
- Liberty falls to 0-2 all-time in CUSA openers, with both setbacks coming to WKU. The Flames' two losses to the Hilltoppers are by a combined three points.
- Owen Aquino led all players with six assists, a new season high for the junior. Aquino's double-double of 12 points and 10 boards was his third of the year and second in his last four games.
- Kaden Metheny knocked down four more triples tonight to get to a team-high 46 on the year.
- Taelon Peter grabbed a season-best seven boards and added nine points on three three-pointers.
- This is only Liberty's eighth-ever setback at Liberty Arena. The Flames are now 63-8 all-time in the facility since it opened prior to the 2020-21 season.
- Liberty's only two setbacks this season have come in games they led at the half. The Flames led FAU 42-39 at the half on Nov. 16 before falling to the Owls 77-74 in overtime. Liberty is 9-2 in games this year in which they have led at intermission.
The Flames will wrap up a seven-game homestand with another CUSA matchup against Middle Tennessee, Saturday evening. Tip time between Liberty (12-2, 0-1 CUSA) and MTSU (10-4, 1-0 CUSA) is set for 6 p.m. at Liberty Arena and can be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network. The Blue Raiders edged FIU 73-69 tonight in Miami, Fla.
The Flames and Blue Raiders split a pair of meetings last year, with each squad winning on its respective home floor. Liberty bested MTSU 88-53 at Liberty Arena in what was the first-ever meeting between the two schools (Feb. 8, 2024). In the second meeting less than a month later (March 5, 2024), the Blue Raiders prevailed 69-61 on their home floor.
Team Stats
WestKy
Lib
FG%
.452
.435
3FG%
.294
.296
FT%
.526
.500
RB
45
35
TO
14
9
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
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