Liberty wasn’t supposed to play Lancaster Bible College this year, but in a season like this one, anything can happen.
A chaotic 24 hours that began with two COVID-19 cancellations resulted in the men’s basketball team squaring off against the Division III Chargers Friday night, ending in a confident 90-49 win for the Flames. In the end, however, both teams were able to take away positives from the game.
Positive COVID-19 tests within the University of North Florida men’s basketball program resulted in the cancellation of two ASUN home games for Liberty. With the cancellation news coming just a day before the Ospreys and the Flames were set to face off, Liberty scrambled to find a replacement opponent.
“We started jumping on the phone and I was calling some head coaches,” Head Coach Ritchie McKay said. “We heard ‘No’ legitimately over two dozen times, and these were against opponents that were off (this weekend).”
Eventually, a mass text sent out by Assistant Coach Derek Johnston was able to find an opponent willing to play the Flames. Lancaster Bible College also experienced a game cancellation due to their opponents having a COVID-19 outbreak within their squad.
The Flames and the Chargers tipped off at 6 p.m. on Feb. 5, just a day after finding their previously scheduled games cancelled.
The Flames started quickly, going seven-for-14 from three in the first half and jumping out to an early 10-point lead. The Chargers kept the Flames from extending their lead, however, with a man-to-man defense and an offense oriented around the three-point arc keeping Liberty at arm’s length.
The Flames consistency quickly gave them the upper hand, however, taking a 45-26 lead into the half. Elijah Cuffee finished the game with a career-high 19 points, while Blake Preston made the most of his start, scoring 17 and collecting nine rebounds.
“It felt good,” Cuffee said. “It is always good to see the ball go through the rim.”
Chargers guard Jordan Shewbridge scored 14 points with guard Seth Beers coming off the bench to score eight.
In the end, however, the Flames talent and depth were too much for the lower-division Chargers to handle. The Flames defeated the Chargers 90-49, extending Liberty’s winning streak at home to 32 games.
Though the game seemed beyond the Chargers from tipoff, McKay praised the Chargers determination to keep up with Liberty, even walking into Lancaster’s locker room after the game to congratulate them on a hard-fought game.
“I think we are just really appreciative we got an opportunity to play,” McKay said. “I don’t think in a season like this that you can take anything for granted, so we are very blessed that Lancaster got on a bus. I have not ever gone into an opposing team’s locker room (before) – and I just told those guys ‘Man, I was really impressed with you.’ I think we got better tonight, and I hope we can keep building on that as we head into this stretch run.”
McKay went on to mention that the Flames are trying to schedule an additional game within the coming weeks. With four games scheduled in the next three weeks, McKay wants the Flames to get more game experience to stay sharp before the ASUN tournament that starts March 4.
The Flames next games will be Feb. 12 and 13 at the University of North Alabama.
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