Liberty Flames Ignite Victory, Douse New Mexico State Aggies' Hopes in Semifinal
The Liberty Flames continued their impressive season with a commanding 82-70 victory over the New Mexico State Aggies. The Flames now boast an unblemished record, while the Aggies fell short, reflecting on their scoreboard tally.
From the onset at Von Braun Center, the Liberty Flames established dominance with a strong opening quarter, outscoring the Aggies 23-12. The home team's offensive efficiency was on full display as they shot an impressive 51 percent from the field throughout the game. Their sharpshooting was particularly evident from beyond the arc where they hit 62 percent of their attempts.
The Flames' defensive prowess was equally notable; they amassed a total of eight blocks and three steals. This defensive pressure contributed to 11 points off turnovers for Liberty. On offense, teamwork shone through with a total of 17 assists, showcasing a collaborative effort in dismantling their opponents' defense.
In contrast to their stellar shooting performance, free throws were also key for Liberty as they capitalized on these opportunities at an exceptional rate of 88 percent accuracy. The team's inside presence was formidable as well; they scored 38 points in paint and secured seven offensive rebounds which led to nine second-chance points.
On the other side of the court, despite falling behind early on and trailing throughout all four quarters, New Mexico State showed resilience especially in the final quarter where they scored an impressive 26 points but it wasn't enough to close down Liberty's lead. They ended up shooting at a lower overall field goal percentage of just 38 percent compared to Liberty's more efficient scoring night.
The Aggies did manage to pull down more rebounds than Liberty with a total count of 37 against Flames' 39 but struggled from two-point range where they only made about two-fifths (39 percent) of those shots attempted within that area. Their efforts from three-point land were moderate with a success rate rounding up to one-third (33 percent).
As fans look ahead after this semifinal win by Liberty University’s basketball team against New Mexico State University’s squad at Huntsville’s Von Braun Center – attention now turns towards what promises to be another exciting matchup for them.
Liberty Flames are set for another challenge as they will face Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders next at Von Braun Center once again. This upcoming game is scheduled for March16th at around mid-evening time (9:00 CT). Fans eager not to miss any action can tune into CBS Sports Network for live coverage.