Cuffee, Homesley with 19 each, Liberty wallops Georgia State
LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Elijah Cuffee and Caleb Homesley scored 19 points each and accounted for eight of Liberty's 11 3-point baskets as the Flames torched Georgia State 78-52 Saturday night in a clash of mid-major teams.
Liberty outscored the Panthers 46-23 in the second half when the pressure was cranked way up. Georgia State committed seven of its 10 turnovers in the second half and was out-rebounded 22-8 while shooting 7-for-21 from the field -- just 1-for-9 from behind the 3-point arc. On the other end, Liberty was shooting 59 percent, 16 of 27, including seven 3-pointers. The Flames never took their foot off the gas, scoring baskets on six of their last eight possessions.
The Flames have won four straight since a nine-point loss to Vanderbilt. The score was a season-low for Georgia State, which had put up 91 and 80 points in back-to-back wins prior to Saturday. Georgia State was ranked 20th in the most recent mid-majors poll.
Georgie Pacheco hit consecutive 3-pointers and Liberty's lead grew from three points to nine before the second half was a minute old. The Flames outscored Georgia State 21-8 to start the second half while the Panthers were shooting 2 of 9.
D'Marcus Simonds scored 22 points for Georgia State, nobody else scored more than nine. Simonds was 8-for-18 in the first half, 1-for-3 in the second and committed five of his six turnovers in the second half.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Freddie Williams
- Tom Kenny
- Rusty Phillips
2023-24 Sun Belt Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State | 16-2 | - | 27-7 |
James Madison | 15-3 | 1 | 32-4 |
Troy | 13-5 | 3 | 20-12 |
Arkansas State | 11-7 | 5 | 20-17 |
Louisiana | 10-8 | 6 | 19-14 |
Southern Miss | 9-9 | 7 | 16-16 |
South Alabama | 8-10 | 8 | 16-16 |
Georgia State | 8-10 | 8 | 14-17 |
Georgia Southern | 8-10 | 8 | 9-24 |
Texas State | 7-11 | 9 | 17-18 |
Marshall | 7-11 | 9 | 13-20 |
UL Monroe | 6-12 | 10 | 11-19 |
Coastal Carolina | 5-13 | 11 | 9-22 |
Old Dominion | 3-15 | 13 | 7-25 |
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 |