Liberty Men’s Basketball Returns and Aims to Defend ASUN Titles

Coming off a third straight ASUN Tournament championship, the Liberty Flames men’s basketball team announced its non-conference schedule. 

The Flames open against Regent Nov. 11 at the Liberty Arena in what will be the first time the Liberty Arena opens to host a full crowd for basketball. The arena opened in the fall of 2020 to limited capacity. 

Immediately following the Regent game, the Flames head to Baton Rouge to take on LSU, who beat them two years ago on the Tigers’ home court. Junior forward Kyle Rode expressed excitement to face a massive challenge toward the start of the season

“When you come here to play for Liberty, coaches do a really good job of putting us in a position to play the best competition we can,” Rode said. “Opening at LSU the second game of the season at LSU is going to be huge
for us.”

Next, the Flames have a trip to Orlando to participate in the MAAC/ASUN Challenge, where they will face Rick Pitino’s Iona Gaels and the Manhattan Jaspers.

Soon after is the most notable home game the Flames have this year—a clash with Missouri, who edged out the Flames with a 69-60 victory last season. It will mark the first time since 2009 that the Flames have hosted Power Five competition, something that senior Darius McGhee is keenly aware of.

“I think it will be big,” McGhee said. “I think this will be, out of my four years, one of the biggest programs to come to Lynchburg, whether it be the Vines or the new facility. It’ll be neat to see how packed it will be.”

The Flames then get the opportunity to compete in the inaugural Hall of Fame Classic against Stephen F. Austin before traveling to Charlotte to face East Carolina in the inaugural Hall of Fame Shootout. Both events are run by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Christmas time will not be cold for the Flames as they travel to Hawaii Dec. 23 to face Northern Iowa in the first round of the Diamond Head Classic. Liberty is the only ASUN representative at the tournament that includes teams from the SEC and Pac-12. Each team is guaranteed to play three games, with each team’s opponent being dictated by the results of the previous games.

Rode said that Coach McKay has been instrumental in growing the program over the last few years and that tournament runs have helped the Flames secure games against better competition.

The Flames close out their nonconference schedule with a homestand game against NCCAA Carver College Dec. 31.

Previously announced, the ASUN conference schedule will look much different than in years past.

With the additions of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State, the ASUN now boasts 12 members. The expansion of teams has split the conference into two divisions —East and West. 

Liberty will play in the East Division with Kennesaw State and Florida schools FGCU, North Florida, Jacksonville and Stetson. The Flames will play both home and away games against teams in the East but will play just one game against teams in the West. 

Liberty opens its conference schedule Jan. 4 at Stetson and closes it Feb. 26 at Kennesaw State. 

Randle is the sports editor. Follow him on Twitter at @lukerandle02.