The Liberty Flames secured a 73-64 victory over the Texas at El Paso Miners, with JJ Harper leading the charge with 18 points and 6 rebounds. This win brings Liberty's record to 22-3, while Texas at El Paso falls to 10-16. The Flames' 45 points in the second half, compared to the Miners' 38, was the decisive factor in the game. Liberty's 73 points were fueled by 45% shooting from the field, including 7 three-pointers.
JJ Harper's 18 Points Lead Liberty to 73-64 Win Over Texas at El Paso
The game was closely contested in the first half, with Liberty holding a slim 28-26 lead at halftime. However, the Flames pulled away in the second half, outscoring Texas at El Paso 45-38. The Miners' Elijah Jones had a strong performance, scoring 15 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome Liberty's balanced attack. Liberty's 22-3 record is a reflection of their strong play this season, and their 78 NET ranking reflects their position as a top team in the country. The Miners, on the other hand, fall to 10-16 and remain at 262 in the NET rankings.
The top performers for both teams were impressive, with JJ Harper leading the way for Liberty with 18 points and 6 rebounds. Brett Decker Jr. added 17 points, while Zach Cleveland chipped in with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. For Texas at El Paso, Elijah Jones had 15 points and 8 rebounds, while KJ Thomas scored 14 points and Kaseem Watson added 10 points and 7 rebounds. The Flames' bench also made significant contributions, outscoring the Miners' bench 15-10. Liberty's 42% three-point shooting was a key factor in their victory, with Harper and Decker Jr. combining for 5 three-pointers.
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Final
The Flames' 45 points in the second half were fueled by 53% shooting from the field, including 5 three-pointers. Liberty also outrebounded Texas at El Paso 36-32, with Cleveland and Harper combining for 12 rebounds. The Miners struggled with turnovers, committing 15 compared to Liberty's 10. Texas at El Paso's 38% shooting from the field was not enough to overcome Liberty's strong defense, which held the Miners to 26 points in the first half. The Flames' 73 points were their 15th highest total of the season, and their 9-point margin of victory was their 10th double-digit win of the year.
The CHD Scout prediction model correctly predicted a Liberty victory, with a predicted margin of 8.6 points. The actual margin of 9 points was close to the predicted margin, and the model's prediction of a Liberty win was spot on. The model's accuracy is a reflection of its ability to analyze team statistics and predict outcomes. In this case, the model correctly identified Liberty's strong offense and defense as key factors in their victory. The Flames' 22-3 record and 78 NET ranking make them a strong contender in the tournament, and the model's prediction reflects their position as a top team.
This win improves Liberty's quad 4 record to 5-3, while Texas at El Paso's quad 3 record falls to 2-10. The Flames' 78 NET ranking is likely to remain steady, while the Miners' 262 NET ranking may drop slightly. The victory is Liberty's 15th win of the season by 5 points or more, and their 10th win away from home. The Flames' strong performance on the road is a key factor in their success, and their ability to win close games matters in the tournament. Texas at El Paso's loss drops them to 10-16, and they must win their remaining games to improve their tournament chances.
Liberty's next game is against a conference opponent, while Texas at El Paso will face a non-conference foe. The Flames want to continue their strong play, while the Miners will try to bounce back from their loss. Liberty's 22-3 record and 78 NET ranking make them a strong contender in the tournament, and their upcoming games matters in determining their seeding. Texas at El Paso's 10-16 record and 262 NET ranking make them a long shot for the tournament, but they can still improve their chances with a strong finish to the season.