Liberty Men’s Basketball Defeats FIU Panthers 58-45
The Liberty University Men’s Basketball team defeated the Florida International University Panthers Feb. 22 with a final score of 58-45 during a “LUau in the Arena” Hawaiian Night in the Liberty Arena.
Junior forward Owen Aquino won the jump ball for the Flames to begin the game. Redshirt senior guard Jayvon Maughmer secured the first points for Liberty with a layup in the paint, putting them into the lead 2-0.
FIU junior guard Jayden Brewer responded with the first points for the Panthers from a driving layup to even out the score 2-2.
Maughmer gained possession of the ball and earned Liberty three more points to lift the score to 5-2.
After a personal foul from junior guard Colin Porter, FIU senior forward Jonathan Aybar was able to find the net with a turnaround second chance shot, cutting their deficit by 2.
The Panthers took their first lead with a pull-up shot from freshman guard Kole Williams, bringing the score to 6-5. Redshirt junior forward Zander Yates responded with a 3-pointer, taking back the lead for Liberty 8-6.
After a steal from Porter and a missed shot from redshirt senior guard Taelon Peter, redshirt senior guard Kaden Metheny capitalized off a second chance 3-pointer.
A steal from Peter gave Metheny another chance to score. FIU managed to keep their momentum alive with a bucket from junior center Vianney Salatchoum with the score at 14-8.
Salatchoum put up two more points for the Panthers, shortening the Flames’ lead 14-10. Yates retaliated with another 3-pointer to keep FIU at bay 17-10.
Salatchoum’s momentum gained when he made a turnaround jump shot for a 17-12 score. A driving layup from Brewer and a 3-pointer from junior guard Dashon Gittens tied the score 17-17. After multiple shot attempts, Maughmer managed to sink a driving layup to break the tie 19-17.
Brewer returned with a layup to tie the game again 19-19. Aquino then made a layup to tip the scales in the Flames’ favor 21-19.
Maughmer dunked the ball into the basket to give the Flames two more points. The crowd erupted in cheers as he retreated from the basket.
Maughmer, fueled on momentum, followed with a layup to raise the score to 25-19. Peter extended the lead with another three points. Brewer picked up a personal shooting foul which granted Peter a trip to the free-throw line. Peter made two shots, pushing the score to 30-19 in Liberty’s favor to end the first half.
Brewer opened the second half of the game with a basket in an attempt to shorten the Flames’ lead to 30-21. A Liberty shot clock violation gave the ball back to FIU, and Salatchoum quickly added a basket for a 30-23 score.
Metheny gained possession and drained one from the 3-point line to boost the score to 33-23. An offensive rebound gave Metheny a shot at a second chance 3-pointer, which he secured.
Salatchoum found an open lane for a layup with the score at 36-25. A personal foul from Peter allowed Gittens to score a free throw to bring the score to 36-26.
Porter responded with a 3-point shot and was followed by a personal shooting foul. FIU landed two free throws adding to the score 39-28.
Peter replied with a layup which Gittens countered with a jumper raising both sides of the score to 41-30.
The score climbed as Porter netted a driving layup to push it further to 43-32. Two layups by the Panthers pushed the score to 43-36.
The Flames continued to hold their lead with a 3-pointer from Yates. The score grew to 46-36 and was followed by a personal foul, sending Peter to the line once again.
Two successful free throws extended Liberty’s lead to 48-36. Porter got his hands on the ball and secured three more points. FIU junior guard Asim Jones retorted with a bucket, resulting in a 51-38 score.
Peter gained possession and took off toward the net, soaring to secure the second dunk of the game. The redshirt senior followed his dunk with a 3-pointer, adding five points to the board 56-38.
Three layups and a free throw from the Panthers pushed the score 56-45. Freshman guard Brett Decker Jr. was the final player to contribute points from two free throws for a 58-45 final score.
“This is a league where anybody can beat anybody,” Head Coach Ritchie McKay said.
The Flames racked up an uncharacteristic number of turnovers during the competition.
“Eighteen turnovers is not our style,” McKay said. “It’s not our lane, so we’re a little frustrated with that.”
The Flames will return to Liberty Arena Feb. 27 when they face off against Jacksonville State University at 7 p.m.
Schlösser is the asst. sports editor for the Liberty Champion.