Liberty dominated Texas at El Paso from start to finish, securing an 80-69 victory at Liberty Arena. The Flames' balanced offense, led by Zach Cleveland and Brett Decker Jr.'s 20 points each, proved too much for the Miners to handle. Cleveland also added 6 rebounds to his impressive stat line, while Decker Jr. showed his scoring prowess with a variety of moves.
The first half set the tone for the game, with Liberty taking a 41-38 lead into the break. The Flames' offense was clicking, with Colin Porter contributing 15 points to the team's effort. On the other side, Elijah Jones was doing his best to keep UTEP in the game, scoring 21 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Jones' performance was impressive, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Flames' depth and balanced scoring.
In the second half, Liberty continued to pull away, outscoring UTEP 39-31. The Miners' Caleb Blackwell tried to keep his team in the game with 20 points and 7 assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Flames' strong team effort. Liberty's ability to share the ball and find open shooters was a key factor in their victory, as they consistently found ways to exploit UTEP's defense.
The game was a Quadrant 4 matchup for Liberty, but they handled the challenge with ease. The win improves the Flames' record to 17-3 and keeps them in the hunt for a strong tournament seed. For UTEP, the loss drops them to 7-13, but the game was a Quadrant 2 opportunity, which could still have a positive impact on their resume.
Liberty's performance was a reflection of their strength and depth, as they were able to overcome a strong individual effort from Jones. The Flames' ability to adapt and respond to UTEP's challenges was impressive, and they want to build on this win as they continue through their schedule.
The outcome of this game has real consequences for both teams' tournament chances. Liberty's win helps to solidify their position as a strong mid-major program, while UTEP's loss makes their path to the tournament more difficult. However, the Miners can still take positives from their performance, particularly Jones' standout effort.
In the end, Liberty's balanced attack and strong team defense proved too much for UTEP to handle. The Flames' victory is a significant one, as it demonstrates their ability to handle lower-ranked opponents and take care of business at home. As the season continues, Liberty want to build on this win and make a strong push for a tournament bid. With their current record and net ranking of 81, the Flames are well-positioned to make a deep run in the tournament.