Can the Flames Rekindle Their Fire After Falling to the Miners at Liberty Arena?
In a closely contested conference game at Liberty Arena, the University of Texas at El Paso Miners emerged victorious over the Liberty Flames with a final score of 67-51. The Miners now stand with an unblemished record, while the Flames' tally shifts to a less favorable position.
The home court advantage was not enough for the Flames as they struggled to find their rhythm against a determined UTEP side. Despite their efforts, the Flames were unable to capitalize on opportunities, ending up with 51 points compared to UTEP's 67. The first half saw them trailing by 12 points and although they slightly improved in scoring during the second half, it wasn't sufficient to close down or overturn their opponent's lead.
The offensive efforts of Liberty were hampered by an underwhelming three-point percentage of just 28 percent from beyond the arc. In contrast, UTEP managed a more effective rate from distance hitting 40 percent of their shots. The Flames did manage to outdo themselves in fast break points with six but fell short in other critical areas such as points off turnovers where they only scored seven compared to UTEP's commanding 23.
Defensively, both teams showed resilience; however, it was UTEP that edged out with three blocks and six steals contributing significantly towards their win. On top of that, they dominated inside scoring an impressive 38 points in paint while limiting Liberty’s production in this area.
Rebounding was another battleground where neither team could claim dominance; each side grabbed similar numbers off the glass –the Miners had a total rebound count of 29 against Liberty’s tally at 26. Personal fouls were also nearly even with LIB committing just two fewer than UTEP's total count.
Despite these challenges and setbacks for LIB fans watching intently among an attendance figure reaching into thousands (3,643), there were notable performances including nine assists which highlighted some level of teamwork and coordination within their playmaking capabilities.
Looking ahead for fans eager for redemption or continuation of support for their team –the next challenge awaits as Liberty travels away from home turf facing Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Murphy Center on March 5th scheduled for a tip-off time around dusk (6:00 PM). This upcoming encounter can be followed live through ESPN+ broadcasts providing another opportunity for supporters to rally behind LIB as they seek recovery from this setback.