Flames Ignite Home Crowd in Win Over Carolina University
Lynchburg, Va. — The Liberty Flames men’s basketball team delivered a dominant performance in their home opener, cruising to an 81–45 victory over Carolina University on Nov. 12 at Liberty Arena.
The Flames used aggressive defense and sharp offensive execution, particularly in the early minutes of both halves, to secure a commanding win and set the tone for the rest of non-conference play.
Liberty wasted no time establishing control, opening the game with a blistering 14–0 run in the first three minutes. The Bruins struggled to respond to Liberty’s suffocating defense, which forced 25 turnovers and contested nearly every shot. The early dominance on both ends of the court gave the Flames an advantage that Carolina could never overcome.
“I thought overall, our guys did a nice job playing the right way,” Head Coach Ritchie McKay said. “We also made sure to use these minutes to deposit into our future.”
The Flames were without star redshirt senior guard Kaden Metheny, who was resting, but the team’s depth more than compensated for his absence. Freshman guard Brett Decker Jr. stepped up in a big way, leading the team with 18 points off the bench. His poise and scoring ability kept the Flames on track offensively.
Picture captured by Liberty Athletics | @libertyflames
“Brett is not your normal freshman,” McKay said. “He is really good, and while I can’t predict what the games will be like in Charleston, I can tell you that I have confidence in Brett Decker Jr.”
Decker wasn’t the only contributor, as Liberty’s balanced offensive attack saw production from across the roster. All 13 players who suited up logged at least 10 minutes on the court. Redshirt senior guard Taelon Peter added 12 points against the Bruins, but he emphasized the team’s focus on setting the tone early.
“We knew that we had to set the tone early,” Peter said. “We also knew that we couldn’t let our guard down just because of the level of our competition.”
By halftime, Liberty held a substantial lead, allowing McKay to rotate his lineup and give everyone minutes. This depth proved valuable—something the Flames lacked last season when they primarily relied on a six-man rotation.
“We talked about being hard to play against,” Peter said. “We knew there were times when we let off the gas a little bit defensively. But at the half, we talked that through and came out in the second half on a different level.”
Picture captured by Liberty Athletics | @libertyflames
The Flames opened the second half with a 12–4 scoring run, effectively putting the game out of reach. Carolina attempted to claw back but faced unrelenting defensive pressure from Liberty.
Liberty’s defensive dominance extended to all facets of the game. The Flames held Carolina to just 45 points on 32.6% shooting from the field. Their ability to force turnovers and control the boards prevented the Bruins from finding any rhythm on offense.
“The returners have done a great job in allowing us to play our game,” Peter said. “But I think the new guys have also done a nice job filling the holes that were there.”
In the final minutes, Liberty maintained control, closing out the game with a decisive 36-point margin. The victory improved Liberty’s record to 3–0 as they prepare for the “Field of 68 Tip-Off” in Charleston, South Carolina.
Liberty will face Florida Atlantic University (2–1) and the College of Charleston (2–0) in the tournament. Their first matchup against FAU is scheduled for Nov. 16 at TD Arena, airing on YouTube at 6 p.m.
