In a stunning turn of events, Western Kentucky, seeded 177th in the NET rankings, toppled Liberty, a team ranked 81st, by a 21-point margin, 94-73. This upset has significant implications for Liberty's NCAA Tournament seeding, potentially putting their bid in jeopardy. Western Kentucky's decisive victory, marked by a 21-point difference, suggests a comprehensive performance that left little room for Liberty to mount a comeback.
The final score and margin belie the narrow 37-48 halftime deficit Liberty faced, but Western Kentucky's 46-36 second-half advantage proved insurmountable. The 48-37 halftime lead Western Kentucky built suggests they were able to establish a solid foundation early, which Liberty struggled to overcome despite a strong second-half showing.
Grant Newell led the charge for Western Kentucky, notching 21 points on 7-15 shooting from the field, including 1-6 from beyond the arc. He also contributed 8 rebounds and 3 assists, showcasing his well-rounded skillset. Newell's efficiency at the free throw line, going 6-6, was also a notable aspect of his performance.
Teagan Moore and LJ Hackman provided additional scoring punch for the Hilltoppers, with Moore and Newell sharing the scoring load. Moore scored 21 points on 6-11 shooting, including a perfect 3-3 from three-point range. Hackman chipped in with 17 points on 5-9 shooting, including 1-4 from three-point range. While Hackman's rebounding and playmaking numbers were limited, his scoring output helped maintain the Hilltoppers' pace.
Colin Porter's 20 points, though a respectable output, ultimately fell short of what was needed to propel Liberty to victory. His 7-14 shooting from the field and 3-9 three-point mark suggest he had his fair share of scoring opportunities, but the team's overall performance left him without enough support. Porter's 3 rebounds and 2 assists, meanwhile, were not particularly notable in this contest.
JJ Harper's 16 points were the result of an efficient 6-7 shooting from the field, with the only blemish being his 1-2 three-point shooting and a subpar 3-7 mark from the free-throw line. However, Harper's defensive presence, highlighted by 2 blocks, was not enough to sway the outcome of the game. Zach Cleveland's 11 points and 5 assists were solid contributions, but ultimately could not counter the Hilltoppers' well-rounded attack.
Notably, Liberty's Kaden Metheny's outing deviated significantly from his season averages, as he scored 6 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and dished out 1 assist. This marked a substantial decline from his season pace, particularly in scoring, where he averaged 13.7 points per game, a 7.7-point drop in this contest. The minimal rebounding and assist totals, in line with his season averages, were overshadowed by his subpar shooting, going 2-for-4 from the field and 2-for-4 from three-point range, a stark contrast to his usual output.
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Final
The pre-game prediction of a 7.2-point Liberty victory was thoroughly debunked by the final score, as Western Kentucky emerged with a 21-point win. The disparity between the predicted and actual outcomes suggests that Liberty's performance was significantly underwhelming, while Western Kentucky's played out to be more in line with their capabilities.
Several key factors contributed to Western Kentucky's decisive victory. Firstly, their dominance on the glass was a major factor, with a 35.7% OREB rate that effectively neutralized Liberty's advantage in shooting efficiency. Furthermore, Western Kentucky's 47.6% 3PT% was a marked improvement over their season average, suggesting that their outside shooting played a crucial role in their success. The contrast between Liberty's 28.6% 3PT% and their season average of 39.5% also highlights the extent to which Liberty's shooting woes impacted their chances.
The victory for Western Kentucky comes at a crucial juncture, as it now holds a more respectable Quad 2 record at 1-3, which could be a difference-maker in seeding considerations. Conversely, Liberty's loss drops its Quad 2 record to 2-1, and while its overall resume remains strong, the setback may impact its seeding potential, particularly in the 3-seed range, where the margin between teams can be razor-thin. The Hilltoppers' Quad 2 win will likely elevate their NET ranking and boost their chances of landing a 12-seed or higher, whereas Liberty's Quad 4 loss may not have a significant impact on its seeding, but it does demonstrate a vulnerability that could be exposed in a deeper NCAA Tournament run.