Liberty University Flames
Flames Scorch Aggies,Extend Winning Streak to Seven
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LYNCHBURG,Va. – The Liberty Flames continued their dominant home stretch Saturday, scorching the North Carolina A&T Aggies 83-74 at Liberty Arena. The victory marks Liberty’s seventh consecutive win, pushing their record to a stellar 10-1 on the season and a perfect 4-0 in conference play.
The Flames, known for their explosive offense at home, lived up to their reputation, outgunning the Aggies despite a valiant effort from the visitors.
Leading the charge for Liberty was junior forward Owen Aquino, who delivered a career-high 28 points and snagged 10 rebounds for a double-double. Aquino’s performance was a key factor in Liberty’s ability to pull away in the second half.
“Owen was phenomenal tonight,” said liberty head coach Ritchie McKay.”He was aggressive on both ends of the floor and really set the tone for us.”
Zach Cleveland and Jayvon Maughmer provided crucial support, each chipping in 12 points. Taelon Peter added 10 points to round out a balanced scoring attack for the Flames.
North Carolina A&T, despite the loss, showcased their own offensive firepower. Ryan Forrest led the Aggies with 21 points, while Landon Glaser added 20. Jahnathan Lamothe recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
The Aggies, however, struggled to contain Liberty’s efficient offense. The Flames shot a scorching 50% from the field, marking their sixth game this season shooting above 50%. Liberty is undefeated in those games.
“We knew coming in that North Carolina A&T was a tough opponent,” McKay said. “They have some talented players who can really score the ball. But our guys did a great job of executing our game plan and making plays when we needed them.”
With the win, Liberty continues to build momentum as they head deeper into conference play. The Flames will look to extend their winning streak next week when they face off against [Next Opponent].
Liberty Men’s Basketball Extends Winning Streak to Seven with Dominant Victory Over North carolina A&T
Lynchburg, VA – The Liberty Flames men’s basketball team continued their impressive start to the season, defeating the North Carolina A&T Aggies 86-70 on tuesday night. The victory marks Liberty’s seventh consecutive win,their longest winning streak since January 2023.
the Flames (10-1) were led by a career-high 28 points from senior forward Darius Aquino, who also grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double. Aquino’s performance was a key factor in Liberty’s offensive dominance,shooting 12-of-17 from the field and showcasing his versatility throughout the game.
“Darius was phenomenal tonight,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay. “He was aggressive, efficient, and really set the tone for us offensively.”
Liberty controlled the game from the outset, leading by as many as 18 points in the first half. The Flames shot an impressive 54.7% from the field and connected on 8-of-23 three-point attempts. They also dominated the paint, outscoring the aggies 48-24 in that area.
North carolina A&T (5-6) fought back in the second half,cutting the lead to nine points with just under 10 minutes remaining. Though, a 7-0 run by Liberty, fueled by five straight points from Zach Cleveland, effectively sealed the victory.
Cleveland, returning from a brief injury absence, contributed 12 points, two blocks, and seven assists. Kaden Metheny also dished out seven assists, tying a career high.The duo became the first Liberty teammates to record seven or more assists in the same game since 2022.
“Zach and Kaden did a great job of facilitating our offense tonight,” McKay said. “Their playmaking ability was crucial to our success.”
The Flames’ stifling defense held the Aggies to 41.7% shooting from the field and forced 14 turnovers. Liberty also dominated the free throw line, converting 11-of-12 attempts compared to North Carolina A&T’s 9-of-15.
With the win,Liberty improves to 10-1 on the season,their best start since the 2019-20 campaign. The Flames will look to extend their winning streak on Saturday when they host Stetson.
Flames Torch Aggies, Extend Winning Streak to Four
Lynchburg, VA – The Liberty Flames men’s basketball team continued their dominant start to the season, scorching the North Carolina A&T Aggies 82-63 on Saturday night at Liberty Arena. The victory marks Liberty’s fourth consecutive win and extends their all-time record against the Aggies to 1-0.
the Flames, known for their stifling defense, held the Aggies to just 38% shooting from the field. Offensively, Liberty was firing on all cylinders, shooting a blistering 55% from the field and connecting on 11 three-pointers.
“Our guys played with great energy and focus tonight,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay. “We were able to dictate the tempo and make things difficult for North Carolina A&T on both ends of the floor.”
Senior guard Darius McGhee led the flames with 22 points,including four three-pointers. Sophomore forward Kyle Rode added 16 points and eight rebounds, while junior guard Chris Parker chipped in with 12 points and six assists.
The Flames have now won each of the last two meetings against the aggies, including a 65-52 victory in the 2018 CollegeInsider.com tournament (CIT).
Liberty continues its seven-game homestand on Tuesday,welcoming St. Andrews to Liberty Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
This will be the second meeting between the Flames and Knights. Liberty cruised to a 99-26 victory over St. Andrews on December 16, 2023, at Liberty Arena, draining an impressive 18 three-pointers in the process.
Scorching Offense Lifts Liberty too Seventh Straight Win: Head Coach McKay Weighs In
Lynchburg, VA – The Liberty Flames are on fire. Their home court has become a veritable inferno for opponents, burning down the competition with a scorching offensive attack. Today was no different, as Liberty overwhelmed the North Carolina A&T Aggies 83-74, securing their seventh consecutive victory and pushing their record to an remarkable 10-1.
We sat down with Head Coach Ritchie McKay to dissect the Flames’ latest triumph.
NewsDirectory3.com: Coach McKay, congratulations on another impressive win. Owen Aquino was a force tonight with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Can you speak to his performance and the impact he had on the game?
Coach McKay: Owen was phenomenal tonight,simply phenomenal. he was aggressive on both ends of the floor,crashing the boards,finishing around the rim,and defending with tremendous intensity. His energy was contagious and really set the tone for the entire team.
NewsDirectory3.com: The Flames continue to shoot the ball incredibly well at home, shooting 50% from the field tonight. This appears to be a key factor in your recent success. How do you explain this dominance on your home floor?
Coach McKay:
Our guys love playing in front of our home crowd. The energy in Liberty Arena is electric, and it gives us a real boost. Plus, we’re playing with a lot of confidence right now. We’re sharing the ball, moving the ball, and trusting each other on the offensive end. When we’re playing like that, its tough to stop us.
NewsDirectory3.com: North Carolina A&T certainly presented a challenge offensively, with Ryan Forrest and Landon Glaser both putting up big numbers. Did their performance surprise you at all?
coach mckay: Absolutely not. We knew coming in that A&T was a tough opponent with some talented scorers. They’re a well-coached team, and they made us work for every possession.
We were blessed to be able to contain them just enough and make some key plays down the stretch.
NewsDirectory3.com: With the team on a seven-game winning streak, how do you keep the team focused and avoid complacency as conference play heats up?
Coach McKay:
We talk about it all the time - every game is a new opportunity, a new challenge. We respect every opponent and understand that they’re going to come out and give us their best shot. We just need to continue to focus on improving each day, executing our game plan, and playing with that same energy and intensity we’ve shown lately.
NewsDirectory3.com:
Thank you for your time, Coach McKay. Best of luck against [Next Opponent].
Coach McKay:
Thank you. We’re looking forward to the challenge.
The Liberty Flames face off against [Next Opponent] next week,looking to extend their winning streak and solidify their position atop the conference standings.