LYNCHBURG, Va. - Redshirt-junior Walt Allen's three-point attempt
with two seconds remaining rimmed in and out, leaving the Flames with a 60-57 victory over
Presbyterian College in the hard-fought game.
The Blue Hose now stand at 4-21 on the season and 2-11 in Big South Conference
play.
PC was led by redshirt-freshman Jake Troyli's 20 points on eight-of-15 shooting
from the floor. Sophomore Chase Holmes chipped in 15 while redshirt-junior Walt Allen added 10 in the loss.
Rookie Travis Smith dished out a team-high eight assists.
The Blue Hose stayed hot all game, connecting on 24-of-45 attempts (53.3
percent) for the contest. Seven of the shots were from behind the three-point
arc. Liberty made 21-of-44 shots (47.7 percent), including six-of-15 from
downtown. The biggest difference was from the foul line as PC made just
two-o-five while the Flames doused the nets by making 12-of-15.
After trailing for much of the game, PC took its first of two leads with 7:19
to play in the game off a jumper by Troyli. Liberty tied it on two foul shots,
but Holmes connected on a tough shot for a 53-51
advantage with 6:20 to go. It marked the last field goal that PC made until
Allen's lay-up with eight seconds remaining, which pulled the visitors within
two, 59-57.
The Blue Hose found themselves down by six with 10:10 to go in the first half,
but Allen drained a three-ball to slice the deficit to three. A couple of possessions later, Jay Reynolds
made a lay-up to once again trim the margin to three. Then, Smith stole the
ball and fed it to Holmes, who had a rim-rattling dunk to make the score 18-17
in favor of the home team.
With 4:10 to go in the opening stanza, Kevin Davis drained a deep three to tie
the contest at 22 apiece. Liberty would slowly increase the lead to eight
before Troyli's jumper off a pass from Khalid Mutakabbir pulled head coach
Gregg Nibert's team within six at the break.
For the game, Reynolds posted a career-high and game-best two blocks.
Liberty was led by Antwan Burrus' 18 points. Evan Gordon added 10 in the victory.
The Blue Hose have a week off before hitting the road for Winthrop on Feb. 13
at 7 p.m.
