Liberty gets hot, defeats FGCU 81-63 in A-Sun debut
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Darius McGhee scored 18 points on six 3-pointers and Liberty made its debut in the Atlantic Sun Conference by making six straight 3s and 14 overall to defeat defending league champion Florida Gulf Coast 81-63 on Saturday night.
The Flames (12-4), coming off a 73-58 win over UCLA a week earlier that proved to be the last game for Bruins coach Steve Alford, were up 54-50 when they got hot.
Elijah Cuffee hit a 3, Liberty's fourth-straight make, to push the lead to 57-50. After the Eagles missed, Liberty missed but turned an offensive rebound into a Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz 3. Cuffee's next 3 capped a 9-0 burst but the Flames went on to drain seven consecutive shots for a 75-54 lead with 6:39 to go.
Liberty finished the second half 18 of 26 from the field (69 percent), 8 of 12 behind the arc. For the game shot was 57 percent (31 of 54), 14 of 28 from distance.
The Eagles (5-11), the defending conference champs, shot 50 percent but couldn't keep pace with the Flames. Schadrac Casimir had 16 points.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Chris Ford
- Archibald Whaley
- Chris Chumley
2023-24 Conference USA Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Sam Houston | 13-3 | - | 21-12 |
Louisiana Tech | 12-4 | 1 | 22-10 |
Western Kentucky | 8-8 | 5 | 22-12 |
Liberty | 7-9 | 6 | 18-14 |
UTEP | 7-9 | 6 | 18-16 |
Middle Tennessee | 7-9 | 6 | 14-19 |
New Mexico State | 7-9 | 6 | 13-19 |
Jacksonville State | 6-10 | 7 | 14-18 |
Florida International | 5-11 | 8 | 11-22 |
2023-24 ASUN Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Eastern Kentucky | 12-4 | - | 17-14 |
Stetson | 11-5 | 1 | 22-13 |
Lipscomb | 11-5 | 1 | 20-12 |
Austin Peay | 10-6 | 2 | 19-16 |
North Florida | 9-7 | 3 | 16-16 |
North Alabama | 8-8 | 4 | 15-17 |
Florida Gulf Coast | 8-8 | 4 | 14-18 |
Queens University | 7-9 | 5 | 14-19 |
Kennesaw State | 6-10 | 6 | 15-16 |
Jacksonville | 5-11 | 7 | 16-17 |
Central Arkansas | 5-11 | 7 | 9-23 |
Bellarmine | 4-12 | 8 | 8-23 |