For the first time since 1999, Liberty basketball has started the season 3-0, after posting a 77-70 win on the road against Kent State, handing KSU its first loss of the season.
The Flames’ defense was exceptional all night, holding the Golden Flashes 16.5 points below its scoring average this season.
Liberty held Kent State to just 23 points in the first half, shooting just 32 percent (8-25) from the field while shooting 46.72 (12-26) percent on the offense. Liberty would build a lead late in the first half, going on a 9-0 run to take a 31-23 lead into halftime.
Liberty’s bench proved to be the difference-maker all night outscoring Kent State’s bench 27-9 as Caleb Homesley and Darius McGhee combined for 25 points.
“I thought our team was really resilient with the hard turnaround we had because of our travels,” Liberty coach Ritchie McKay said. “You can see our experience paying dividends because of the way we played defense in the first half. I am proud of our guys because tonight it was a collective effort. The beauty of this team is that we have a lot of balance. Caleb (Homesley) was special tonight and then you have guys like Darius (McGhee) and Lovell (Cabbil Jr.) playing well. Tonight was about being consistent on the defensive and our veteran guys have helped our young guys get acclimated.”
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