Breaking: Liberty Flames Upset FIU Panthers 97-94 in Overtime, Clinching First-Ever CUSA Road Win and Opening Victory
H2. Liberty Flames Squeak By FIU Panthers in Overtime Thriller, Start C-USA Play 1-0
H2. Game Recap: Lead Changes, Ties, and Drama Down to the Wire
The Liberty Flames (9-3) clinched their first C-USA road win of the season, outlasting the FIU Panthers (7-5) 97-94 in a nail-biting overtime matchup at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Sunday. Liberty’s ability to shoot over 50 percent from the field and Bohde Decker Jr. and Kaden Metheny’s combined 52 points propelled the Flames to victory.
Flames’ fans were treated to a back-and-forth thriller with 17 lead changes and 10 ties throughout the contest. After a close first half that ended 41-33 in favor of Liberty, FIU opened the second half on a 12-3 run to knot the score at 44-all. The Panthers’ biggest lead came with 9:04 remaining in the game at 63-55, but Liberty showed resilient, reclaiming the lead at 73-73 with 4:24 left on the clock thanks to a clutch layup from JJ Harper.
H2. Clutch Play andparse Stat Stuffing Propel Liberty to Victory
With less than a minute left in regulation, Eric Dibami gave FIU the lead 81-80 on a free throw, but Liberty’s Josh Smith scored on a goaltending violation two seconds later, forcing overtime. In the extra session, the Flames knocked down 9-of-10 free throws, with Metheny draining a crucial three-pointer with 1:06 remaining to secure Liberty’s narrow victory.
H2. Key Stats & Notes
- Brett Decker Jr. notched a season-high 27 points, leading the way with 5-of-11 three-point shooting.
- Kaden Metheny poured in 25 points, including a season-best six three-pointers.
- Josh Smith contributed 13 points and a season-high nine rebounds off the bench, finishing +21 on the afternoon.
H3. Turning the Tide: Liberty’s Road Success
With this win, Liberty improves to 8-2 in C-USA road games since the start of the 2023-24 season. Under head coach Richie uniform, the Flames have proven to be a resilient bunch on the road, ready to compete in any environment.
**FAQ: Liberty’s Road Warriors**
- Q: What is Liberty’s road record in the past season and a half?
A: Liberty is 16-5 on the road in the past 22 games. - Q: How have Liberty’s road performances translated into conference success?
A: The Flames are 9-0 when outshooting their opponents and 8-0 when shooting 50% or better on the road.
H2. Up Next: C-USA Home Opener Against Kennesaw State
Liberty returns home to host Kennesaw State (8-4, 0-1 C-USA) this upcoming Friday at 7 p.m. EST in a nationally televised game on ESPN+. The Flames and Owls squared off three times last season, including a C-USA Championship semifinal matchup. Liberty looks to secure its first-ever C-USA home-opener win after dropping previous two contests by a combined three points.
H2. Call to Action: Join the Conversation!
Share your thoughts on Liberty’s thrilling overtime victory or predict how the Flames will fare in their C-USA home opener against Kennesaw State in the comments section below.