MEN’S BASKETBALL 2017-18 GAME NOTES Steven Gonzalez, Associate Director for Communications · Cell: (602) 803-0521 · E-mail: [email protected] #5 LIBERTY #1 UNC ASHEVILLE FLAMES V BULLDOGS 2017-18 SCHEDULE & RESULTS 19-13 OVERALL S 21-11 OVERALL OVERALL RECORD: 19-13 9-9 BIG SOUTH 13-1 BIG SOUTH Big South: 9-9 | Non-Conference: 9-4 FRIDAY, MARCH 2ND | 8 P.M. | KIMMEL ARENA | ASHEVILLE, N.C. Home: 11-7 | Away: 6-5 | Neutral: 2-1 NOVEMBER COACHING MATCHUP THE STARTING 5 - LIBERTY'S TOP STORYLINES 10 CLARKS SUMMIT W, 87-42 liberty UNC ASHEVILLE • Liberty ranks No. 11 in scoring defense in the 14 at Wake Forest W, 79-66 country allowing 63.9 points per game. 17 MERCER ^ L, 48-63 Ritchie Nick 18 L, 68-66 Head Coach • Liberty is the only team to beat UNC Asheville at HOUSTON ^ McKay McDevitt home this season. 19 QUINNIPIAC ^ W, 84-72 25 TOCCOA FALLS W, 96-50 92-74 98-64 • Liberty has tied the school record for most wins in Record at School 27 HOWARD W, 75-55 (5) (Years) (5) back-to-back seasons (40) matching the 1996 and 1997 seasons. DECEMBER 257-232 Overall Record 98-64 2 UNCG L, 75-76 (3OT) (16) (Years) (5) • Ryan Kemrite is shooting 44.5 percent from three- 4 at Georgia State W, 77-74 (OT) point range, which would break the school record 8 MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE W, 71-49 SERIES HISTORY VS. UNC ASHEVILLE (44%) for highest percentage in a season held by 16 W, 96-40 Matt Hildebrand. KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN 21-40 21 vs. Fort Wayne# L, 64-75 • Liberty has the chance to win 20+ games in back-to- 22 Alabama State# W, 87-70 Overall ...........................................................21-40 back seasons for the first time in school history. 30 at Gardner-Webb* L, 55-58 Streak ................................................................W1 • For the first time in school history, Liberty has won at JANUARY At Liberty ........................................................13-12 least six road games in back-to-back seasons. 2 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN* W, 70-53 At UNC Asheville .............................................. 7-25 6 PRESBYTERIAN* W, 60-48 .............................................................. 2-8 • Liberty will post its first winning record on the road Neutral 9 at Winthrop* W, 73-70 Ritchie McKay vs. UNC Asheville ......................3-9 since the 1996-97 season (9-4). Liberty's Last Win ......Feb. 15, 2018 (82-69, OT) at AVL 12 LONGWOOD* L, 51-58 • The Flames are the only team in the Big South this 15 at Radford* L, 57-59 (OT) Last 5 Meetings: year with a winning record on the road. Feb. 15, 2018 ... ............Liberty won 82-69 in OT (A) 18 at High Point* L, 60-71 Jan. 21, 2018.........................Liberty lost 68-84 (H) • Liberty currently ranks 5th in the country in free 21 UNC ASHEVILLE* L, 68-84 Feb. 25, 2017...........................Liberty lost 45-63 (A) throw percentage shooting 78.6 percent as a team. 23 CAMPBELL* L, 85-94 Jan. 3, 2017..............................Liberty lost 57-70 (H) • Currently at 78.6 percent, Liberty would break the 27 at Presbyterian* W, 81-66 March 4, 2016........................Liberty lost 49-80 (N) school record for highest free-throw percentage as FEBRUARY a team. (73.9 percent in 2003). 1 WINTHROP* W, 77-61 3 at Longwood* W, 67-55 HOW TO FOLLOW THE FLAMES • Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz ranks 18th in the country in 7 at Charleston Southern* L, 75-87 free-throw percentage at 89.5%. Video ...........................................................ESPN3 10 GARDNER-WEBB* W, 77-65 • Pacheco-Ortiz's free throw percentage is currently Audio ....LFSN Radio (98.5 FM, 101.1 FM & 610 AM) 15 at UNC Asheville* W, 82-69 (OT) the third highest ever by an individual in school 18 at Campbell* L, 69-79 Twitter ............................................ @LibertyMBB history in a season. Record is held by Matt Hildebrand 22 RADFORD* L, 50-63 (92.6 percent). 24 HIGH POINT* W, 65-45 PROJECTED STARTERS MARCH 1 vs.#4 Campbell @ Asheville, N.C. W, 73-59 2 at #1 UNC Asheville 8 p.m. 4 Championship Game 1 p.m. Home Games in BOLD CAPS All times are listed in Eastern Time * - Big South Conference Game ^ - Paradise Jam # - New Orleans Shootout @ - Big South Championship 11 3 10 5 31 Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz Lovell Cabbil Elijah Cuffee Ryan Kemrite Scottie James 6-1 | Sophomore | G 6-3 | Junior | G 6-4 | Freshman | G/F 6-4 | R-Senior | F 6-7 | R-Sophomore | Forward 10.4 PPG 11.1 PPG 5.4 PPG 10.2 PPG 13.2 PPG 2.7 APG 3.3 APG 2.4 RPG 2.8 RPG 8.5 RPG ‹ 1 › QUICK FACTS / ROSTERS / MEDIA INFo GENERAL INFORMATION 2017-18 LIBERTY NUMERICAL ROSTER Name of School .......................Liberty University No. Name Year Pos. Ht. Hometown/High School (Previous School) City/Zip ...............................Lynchburg, Va. 24515 Founded ........................................................1971 0 Myo Baxter-Bell R-So. F 6-5 Cincinnati, Ohio/Chaminade Julieen HS Enrollment ............................................... 15,000 1 Caleb Homesley R-So. G 6-6 Indian Trail, N.C./Porter Ridge HS Nickname .................................................Flames School Colors ..........................Red, White & Blue 3 Lovell Cabbil Jr. G 6-3 Arlington, Texas/Mansfield Summit HS Home Arena ....................................Vines Center 5 Ryan Kemrite R-Sr. G/F 6-4 Conroe, Texas/Satch Homeschool Capacity .......................................................9,511 10 Elijah Cuffee Fr. G/F 6-4 Poca, W. Va./Liberty Christian Academy Affiliation .....................................NCAA Division I Conference ..........................................Big South 11 Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz So. G 6-1 Ponce, Puerto Rico/Deep Run HS Founder ..................................... Dr. Jerry Falwell 13 Isaiah Williams R-Fr.. G/F 6-7 Dayton, Ohio/Stivers School for the Arts (Akron) President....................................Jerry Falwell Jr. 14 Brody Hicks Fr. G 6-4 Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring HS Director of Athletics ......................... Ian McCaw Athletics Dept. Phone .................(434) 582-2100 15 Zach Farquhar Sr. G 5-9 Cincinatti, Ohio/Sycamore HS 20 Keegan McDowell Fr. G/F 6-6 Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller HS MEN'S BASKETBALL INFORMATION 24 Ezra Talbert R-Jr. F 6-8 Olathe, Kan./Olathe East HS Head Coach ...................................Ritchie McKay Alma Mater ............................ Seattle Pacific, ‘87 31 Scottie James R-So. F 6-7 Tarpon Springs, Fla./Tarpon Springs HS (Bradley) Record at School ........................92-74 (5th Year) 44 Ryan Hiepler Jr. G 6-0 Camarillo, Calif./Oaks Christian HS Career Record ..................... 257-232 (16th Year) 55 Brendan Newton Fr. C 7-2 Roanoke, Va./Faith Christian School Assistant Coaches................................................ ................. Brad Soucie (Christian Heritage, ‘90) ....................... Kyle Getter (Hanover College, ‘01) Coaching and Support Staff .......................................Vic Sfera (Memphis ‘10) Head Coach: Ritchie McKay, Third Year (Seattle Pacific, '87) Director of Player Development .......................... ..............................Marcus Conrad (Virginia, ‘15) Assistant Coach: Brad Soucie, Third Year (Christian Heritage, '90) Director of Basketball Operations ....................... Assistant Coach: Kyle Getter, Third Year (Hanover College, '01) ........................... Chelsea Mangino (Virginia, ‘14) Assistant Coach: Vic Sfera, Second Year (Memphis, '01) Certified Athletic Trainer ...............................Aaron Schreiner (Taylor, ‘02) Director of Player Development: Marcus Conrad, First Year (Virginia, '15) Director of Operations: Chelsea Mangino, Second Year (Virginia, '14) HISTORY Graduate Assistant: Tyde Coffey, First Year (Covenant, '17) First Season of Basketball ........................1972-73 All-Time Record .......................................659-714 Strength and Conditioning Coach: Henry Barerra, Second Year (Multnomah, '02) NCAA Tournament Appearances .......................3 Certified Athletic Trainer: Aaron Schriener, 12th Year (Taylor, '02) Last NCAA Appearance................................2013 Opponent .............................North Carolina A&T Result ...................................L/73-72 (First Four) Final 2016-17 Record ....................................21-14 PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Conference Record/Finish .................... 14-4/3rd #0 Myo Baxter-Bell ........................................................................... My-O Starters Returning/Lost .................................4/1 Letterwinners Returning/Lost.......................8/6 #3 Lovell Cabbil ..................................................................Love-el Cab-ull Newcomers ........................................................6 #15 Zach Farquhar ..................................................................... Far-qwar ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS #44 Ryan Hiepler ..............................................................................Hipler Assoc. AD - Communications #5 Ryan Kemrite .....................................................................Khem-right ......................................................Todd Wetmore #11 Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz .....................................................Puh-checko Office Phone ................................(434) 582-2292 Email Address ................ [email protected] Assoc. Director (MBB) ..............Steven Gonzalez Office Phone ................................(434) 582-2294 Email Address [email protected] Website ................................ LibertyFlames.com Facebook ...................... Liberty Flames Athletics