2018–19 Liberty Flames basketball team

The 2018–19 Liberty Flames men's basketball team represented Liberty University in the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in Lynchburg, Virginia for the 29th consecutive season at Vines Center, with a capacity of 8,085. The team was led by Ritchie McKay, in his sixth season, but fourth season since his return to the program. They were first-year members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. They finished the season 29–7, 14–2 in ASUN play to share the regular season championship with Lipscomb. They defeated Jacksonville, North Florida and Lipscomb to be champions of the Atlantic Sun Tournament. They received the ASUN's automatic-bid to the NCAA Tournament where they defeated Mississippi State in the First Round before losing in the Second Round to Virginia Tech.

2018–19 Liberty Flames basketball
Atlantic Sun regular season co-champions
Atlantic Sun tournament champions
NCAA Tournament, Second Round
ConferenceAtlantic Sun Conference
2018–19 record29–7 (14–2 ASUN)
Head coachRitchie McKay (4th (6th Overall) season)
Assistant coaches
  • Brad Soucie (4th (6th) season)
  • Derek Johnston (1st season)
  • Kevin Anderson (1st season)
Home arenaVines Center
2018–19 Atlantic Sun men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Lipscomb14–2 .875  29–8  .784
Liberty †14–2 .875  29–7  .806
North Florida9–7 .563  16–17  .485
Florida Gulf Coast9–7 .563  14–18  .438
NJIT8–8 .500  22–13  .629
North Alabama7–9 .438  10–22  .313
Jacksonville5–11 .313  12–20  .375
Kennesaw State3–13 .188  6–26  .188
Stetson3–13 .188  7–24  .226
† 2019 ASUN Tournament winner

Previous season

They were members of the Big South Conference. They finished the season 22–14, 9–9 in Big South play to finish in a four-way tie for fifth place. They defeated Campbell and UNC Asheville to advance to the championship game of the Big South Tournament where they lost to Radford. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated North Carolina A&T in the first round in a game referred to as the Jim Phelan Classic. They received a second round bye and defeated Central Michigan in the quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals to UIC.

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Brody Hicks14Guard6'4"200FreshmanRoanoke, VirginiaTransferred
Ryan Hiepler44Guard6'0"180JuniorWestlake Village, CaliforniaTransferred to Dominican University
Ryan Kemrite5Guard6'4"200SeniorConroe, TexasGraduated
Ezra Talbert24Forward6'8"190JuniorOlathe, KansasGraduated

2018-19 Newcomers
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Tytist Dean
G		 Saint Paul, Minnesota North High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg)  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Keenan Gumbs
F		 Cibolo, Texas Schreiner University 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Darius McGhee
G		 Roxboro, North Carolina Blue Ridge School 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Blake Preston
F		 Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Christian School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Josh Price
G		 Charlotte, North Carolina Carmel Christian School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

    Roster
    2018–19 Liberty Flames men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    F 0 Myo Baxter-Bell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)255 lb (116 kg) RS JrChaminade Julieen High School Dayton, Ohio
    G 1 Caleb Homesley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg) RS JrPorter Ridge High School Indian Trail, North Carolina
    G 2 Darius McGhee 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
    —
    		 FrBlue Ridge School Roxboro, North Carolina
    G 3 Lovell Cabbil 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)170 lb (77 kg) SrMansfield Summit High School Arlington, Texas
    G 4 Tytist Dean 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrNorth High School St. Paul, Minnesota
    F 5 Keenan Gumbs 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
    —
    		 SrSchreiner University Cibolo, Texas
    G/F 10 Elijah Cuffee 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg) SoLiberty Christian Academy Poca, West Virginia
    G 11 Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg) JrDeep Run High School Ponce, Puerto Rico
    G 15 Zach Farquhar (W) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)160 lb (73 kg) RS SrSycamore High School Cincinnati, Ohio
    G/F 20 Keegan McDowell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)180 lb (82 kg) SoMoeller High School Cincinnati, Ohio
    G 25 Josh Price  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
    —
    		 FrCarmel Christian School Charlotte, North Carolina
    F 31 Scottie James 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)235 lb (107 kg) RS JrBradley Tarpon Springs, Florida
    F 32 Blake Preston  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
    —
    		 FrCharlotte Christian School Charlotte, North Carolina
    C 55 Brendan Newton 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)235 lb (107 kg) RS FrFaith Christian High Roanoke, Virginia
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on
    • Roster is subject to change as/if players transfer or leave the program for other reasons.

    Schedule and results
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    Nov 4, 2018*
    3:00 pm    		 No. 15 Virginia Tech
    Hurricane Relief Exhibition    		 L 70–86 
    		 15 – Cuffee  6 – James  4 – Cabbil  Vines Center (4,210)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Non-conference regular season
    Nov 8, 2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Maine Fort Kent W 89–40  1–0
    		  17 – Cabbil  11 – James  3 – 3 tied  Vines Center (3,002)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Nov 13, 2018*
    8:30 pm, ESPN+    		 Trevecca Nazarene
    Commodore Classic    		 W 93–40  2–0
    		  15 – James  12 – Homesley  6 – Homesley  Vines Center (2,336)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Nov 16, 2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 at Kent State W 77–70  3–0
    		  16 – Homesley  9 – James  4 – Tied  MAC Center (2,214)
    Kent, OH
    Nov 19, 2018*
    8:00 pm, SECN    		 at Vanderbilt
    Commodore Classic    		 L 70–79  3–1
    		  16 – Cabbil  9 – James  3 – Tied  Memorial Gymnasium (8,493)
    Nashville, TN
    Nov 23, 2018*
    2:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Alcorn State
    Commodore Classic    		 W 76–54  4–1
    		  15 – Cuffee  9 – Tied  4 – Cabbil  Vines Center (1,929)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Nov 25, 2018*
    2:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Savannah State
    Commodore Classic    		 W 82–56  5–1
    		  15 – McGhee  8 – Homesley  6 – Cabbil  Vines Center (1,943)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Nov 28, 2018*
    7:00 pm    		 at Navy W 76–58  6–1
    		  18 – McGhee  7 – Tied  5 – Pacheco-Ortiz  Alumni Hall (489)
    Annapolis, MD
    Dec 1, 2018*
    6:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Georgia State W 78–52  7–1
    		  19 – Tied  17 – James  5 – Cuffee  Vines Center (2,966)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Dec 3, 2018*
    6:30 pm, FS2    		 at Georgetown L 78–88  7–2
    		  19 – McGhee  4 – James  4 – Gumbs  Capital One Arena (4,011)
    Washington, D.C.
    Dec 11, 2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 South Carolina State W 79–55  8–2
    		  18 – Pacheco-Ortiz  7 – James  5 – McGhee  Vines Center (1,684)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Dec 15, 2018*
    2:00 pm    		 Kentucky Christian W 96–55  9–2
    		  14 – Tied  10 – Homesley  6 – McGhee  Vines Center (2,115)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Dec 18, 2018*
    8:00 pm, SECN+    		 vs. Alabama
    Rocket City Classic    		 L 75–84  9–3
    		  23 – Homesley  11 – James  5 – Homesley  Von Braun Center (5,781)
    Huntsville, AL
    Dec 21, 2018*
    12:00 pm    		 vs. Alabama State
    St. Pete Shootout semifinals    		 W 73–55  10–3
    		  14 – Gumbs  7 – Gumbs  2 – 5 tied  McArthur Center (158)
    St. Petersburg, FL
    Dec 22, 2018*
    2:30 pm    		 vs. Austin Peay
    St. Pete Shootout    		 L 66–75  10–4
    		  15 – Pacheco-Ortiz  11 – James  5 – Cuffee  McArthur Center (202)
    St. Petersburg, FL
    Dec 29, 2018*
    6:00pm, P12N    		 at UCLA W 73–58  11–4
    		  21 – Homesley  7 – James  4 – Pacheco-Ortiz  Pauley Pavilion (7,456)
    Los Angeles, CA
    Atlantic Sun Conference regular season
    Jan 5, 2019
    7:00pm, ESPN+    		 at FGCU W 81–63  12–4
    (1–0)    		  18 – McGhee  6 – Tied  8 – James  Alico Arena (3,517)
    Fort Myers, FL
    Jan 9, 2019
    7:00pm, ESPN+    		 at Stetson W 71–53  13–4
    (2–0)    		  15 – James  8 – McGhee  4 – Homesley  Edmunds Center (376)
    Deland, FL
    Jan 12, 2019
    2:00pm, ESPN+    		 Jacksonville W 69–53  14–4
    (3–0)    		  18 – James  11 – Homesley  3 – Pacheco-Ortiz  Vines Center (2,963)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Jan 16, 2019
    7:00pm, ESPN+    		 at Kennesaw State W 62–41  15–4
    (4–0)    		  12 – Tied  12 – James  5 – Cabbil  KSU Convocation Center (843)
    Kennesaw, Ga
    Jan 19, 2019
    7:00pm, ESPN+    		 North Florida W 70–64  16–4
    (5–0)    		  18 – James  7 – Homesley  4 – Tied  Vines Center (4,958)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Jan 21, 2019
    7:00pm, ESPN+    		 North Alabama W 72–47  17–4
    (6–0)    		  20 – Cabbil  9 – Homesley  5 – Baxter-Bell  Vines Center (2,716)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Jan 27, 2019
    2:00pm, ESPN+    		 at Jacksonville W 69–59  18–4
    (7–0)    		  19 – Homesley  6 – James  4 – Tied  Swisher Gymnasium (718)
    Jacksonville, FL
    Jan 29, 2019
    7:00pm, ESPN+    		 Lipscomb L 59–79  18–5
    (7–1)    		  12 – Homesley  6 – Baxter-Bell  2 – Tied  Vines Center (5,053)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Feb 2, 2019
    7:00pm, ESPN+    		 NJIT W 77–57  19–5
    (8–1)    		  18 – Pacheco-Ortiz  10 – James  5 – Cabbil  Vines Center (3,782)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Feb 5, 2019
    7:00pm, ESPN+    		 Stetson W 57–54  20–5
    (9–1)    		  19 – Cabbil  6 – Homesley  5 – Baxter-Bell  Vines Center (2,244)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Feb 9, 2019
    7:00pm, ESPN+    		 FGCU W 74–67  21–5
    (10–1)    		  13 – Homesley  14 – James  4 – Tied  Vines Center (4,400)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Feb 13, 2019
    7:30pm, ESPN+    		 at Lipscomb W 74–66  22–5
    (11–1)    		  17 – James  10 – Homesley  3 – Tied  Allen Arena (3,437)
    Nashville, TN
    Feb 16, 2019
    4:00pm, ESPN+    		 at North Alabama W 80–70  23–5
    (12–1)    		  30 – Cabbil Jr.  14 – James  4 – Cabbil Jr.  Flowers Hall (967)
    Florence, AL
    Feb 23, 2019
    5:00pm, ESPN+    		 at North Florida L 70–75  23–6
    (12–2)    		  18 – Homesley  14 – James  4 – Pacheco-Ortiz  UNF Arena (2,169)
    Jacksonville, Fl
    Feb 26, 2019
    7:00pm, ESPN+    		 Kennesaw State W 76–59  24–6
    (13–2)    		  16 – Cuffee  9 – Homesley  6 – Cabbil Jr.  Vines Center (3,376)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Mar 1, 2019
    7:00pm, ESPN+    		 at NJIT W 57–51  25–6
    (14–2)    		  19 – James  11 – James  2 – James  Wellness and Events Center (945)
    Newark, NJ
    Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament
    March 4, 2019
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 (2) (7) Jacksonville
    Quarterfinals    		 W 72–58  26–6
    		  16 – Pacheco-Ortiz  7 – Homesley  5 – Homesley  Vines Center (1,738)
    Lynchburg, VA
    March 7, 2019
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 (2) (3) North Florida
    Semifinals    		 W 71–63  27–6
    		  24 – James  9 – James  3 – Homesley  Vines Center (2,319)
    Lynchburg, VA
    March 10, 2019
    3:00 pm, ESPN    		 (2) at (1) Lipscomb
    Championship    		 W 74–68  28–6
    		  17 – James  8 – James  8 – Homesley  Allen Arena (5,028)
    Nashville, TN
    NCAA Tournament
    March 22, 2019*
    7:27 pm, truTV    		 (12 E) vs. (5 E) Mississippi State
    First Round    		 W 80–76  29–6
    		  30 – Homesley  6 – James  5 – Cabbil Jr.  SAP Center (12,824)
    San Jose, CA
    March 24, 2019*
    7:10 pm, TBS    		 (12 E) vs. (4 E) No. 16 Virginia Tech
    Second Round    		 L 58–67  29–7
    		  15 – McGhee  9 – Homesley  3 – Tied  SAP Center (14,802)
    San Jose, CA
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. E=East.
    All times are in Eastern Time.

    [1]

    References
    1. "2020-21 Season Men's Basketball Schedule | Liberty Flames". www.liberty.edu.
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