[Sly Fox]

Bring your thoughts on this victory here.



After a slow start, Larry finished up nicely while Brew was solid from start to finish. Evcen Big Russ played a nice role more than offsetting UNCA's twin towers of George & Walker.

[Stevev]

Brew continues his great play. Looks like things are comming together with this bunch. Should win on Saturday and hopefully can catch Winthrop napping when we play them at their place.

[PAmedic]

Just got in- late night at work and I missed the whole #$%^&*() thing

good for LU though! the jinx wasn't listening!


great job by Coach to get these guys prepared for what was evidently a very nice win at home.

any official attendance number?

[Stevev]

2116 I think

[A.G.]

Pathetic crowd. You can't tell me 3,000 students had night class tonite.

Good effort by the team. Would have liked to have seen us keep it more up-tempo though. Ashville is just plain bad, though. Also, I am pulling the new avatar--we've won 3 games since I posted The Donald.

[BJWilliams]

Actually no...3000 students went to hear Dr James McDonald and many went from there to their dorms to either do homework, or to settle some matters with people that they were convicted about during the message tonight. There were some that had night class too but I wanted to offer up another reason for the low turnout

[Stevev]

Hopefully we can double that number on Saturday. That should be a win. High Point is not that good. They just lost to Longwood.

[TDDance234]

Good win. We should have kept up with the fast paced offense, though.

[whmatthews]

Hopefully J. Holland will be better for Saturday night's game. He was jogging around in the back during half time, so hopefully he'll be fine. They had it iced the entire second half.

[El Scorcho]

Pathetic crowd. You can't tell me 3,000 students had night class tonite.

Spiritual. Emphasis. Week.

[krh44]

Brew looked great, he is so quick but needs to take more shots . Smith continues to play well. Alex has a great little hook Larry continues continues to reach milestones while forcing too many shots.

[Purple Haize]

Pathetic crowd. You can't tell me 3,000 students had night class tonite.

Spiritual. Emphasis. Week.

That is why we won right there. JESUS was on our side. He is AWESOME (Danny Lovet sighting)

[thepostman]

glad to hear that Dwight has 2 good games in a row...though we are only beating teams that we should, it looks as if we are coming together...a road win and a home stand does wonders huh?? I hope it continues...as much talk as there has been about the negative things about the team and coaching, etc...I want more then anything for us to win....all that other crap can wait

[SuperJon]

There were easily 3000 in the second half. Kids left church and came to the game.

Jerry was at the game the entire time.

Kenny George is flat out huge.

I know I have been critical, but I have always said that I will give credit where credit is due. Coach made a great adjustment tonight putting in the press defense a few times and the 2-3 trap (that's what it looked like, it may not be that exactly). When we made the stops, we were able to run, and that's where we're at our best. Once we get a grip on it better, I think we'll be able to run even more.

Second, after watching the Winthrop game and the HPU game, along with some people who were at the CSU game, I seriously, 100% thought that Coach had lost this team. Since then, I've gotten some reports from practice that show he was bringing the reigns back in, and it shows. The past two games the team has played hard, they've actually looked like they were paying attention to what Coach has said, and we've won by double digits. I give Coach a ton of credit for being able to set it straight.

The one draw back from tonight was free throw shooting. We were somewhere around 56% I think. We're in the tops of the conference at around 70% every game. We could've just had a bad night (which I think it was) and Smitty's 2/6 didn't help at all.

Rell and Tyler had some very nice defensive stops. Rell's shot falling down was great.

Russ doesn't even know the girl that held up those signs. He played great by the way.



HPU on Saturday. We get that, we'll be in GREAT position.

If things work out, I PROMISE you will want to be at the CSU game. It's an afternoon game, I'm calling for a FlameFans.com tailgate if it's not too cold. We'll have our parking pass by then.


I may be in NCAA March Madness 08 (or whatever it's called). That would be great.

We're 2-0 with the flag on my back. That means it stays.

[thepostman]

we are on the right track for sure... i was not at tonights game, but from everything i have heard the guys responded well, they won by 15 and shot poorly from the free throw line, i think that speaks volume for how well they played tonight...at least to me

these are games we should win, but we weren't winning these games not so long ago....the team is coming together and maybe....maybe Coach D is getting this team to buy into things....like I have said I have always liked Coach D as a coach....and I am still in the wait and see mode as far as his future goes...but things are looking bright again....I am excited about saturday night's game...

random question

why is the CSU game at 1PM??? Its fine with me...but just curious...i see the girls play at 330 that same day...but why so early?? why not an evening double header again????

[SuperJon]

Sometimes afternoon games are good. It gives you a chance to get out and still have the night. I want to tailgate that game.

[Schfourteenteen]

It may be in another thread, but how is Holland doing? Didnt he go down late 1st half?

[SuperJon]

He was on the bike most of the game. We talked to him a little and could tell he wanted to be out there. I don't think it's anything serious.

[Sly Fox]

From the SIDs:

Larry Blair Reaches 2,000-Point Milestone As Liberty Tops UNC Asheville

January 30, 2007
Lynchburg, Va.


Blair reached 2,000 career point milestone in win

Senior guard Larry Blair scored his 2,000th career point as his Liberty Flames (10-12, 4-4 BSC) triumphed over the UNC Asheville Bulldogs (7-15, 3-5 BSC) Tuesday night at the Vines Center, 80-65.

The Flames’ third-consecutive win lifts them into a third-place tie with Coastal Carolina in the Big South Conference standings.

The historic moment happened rather quickly when Blair picked off a K.J. Garland pass and took it to the hoop for his first basket of the game. The lay-up gave Blair his 2,000th career point with 17:33 left in the opening half, making him the third player in both Liberty and Big South Conference history to reach the milestone. Blair also became the 429th player in NCAA Division I history to reach the landmark, and the fourth to do so this season.

Milestone aside, the Flames got off to a fast start, staking themselves to a 9-1 lead on the heels of a floater by Anthony Smith with 15:50 left in the opening half.

The Flames then followed that run with a 20-9 surge, capped by an alley oop from Damien Hubbard to Smith with 8:16 remaining in the opening period, lifting Liberty to a 29-10 advantage.

The Bulldogs clawed back with a 7-2 run, capped by a fast break lay-up from Bryan Smithson with 5:23 left in the half. Smithson’s basket cut Liberty’s lead to 31-17.

The two teams tallied seven points apiece in the remainder of the half. Rell Porter made an acrobatic shot over his head with 4.6 seconds remaining in the half for the Flames. The junior was also fouled on the play and made the ensuing free throw to give Liberty the 38-24 halftime advantage.

For the third-straight half and for the fourth time in the last five halves, the Flames shot over 50 percent from the field. The home team hit 59.3 percent of their shots on 16-of-27 shooting in the opening period.

Meanwhile, UNC Asheville shot 34.6 percent on 9-of-26 shooting during the first 20 minutes.

The Bulldogs started out the second half on a 17-13 run, finishing on a Donovan Jones lay-up with 12:10 left in the game. His basket shaved the Flames’ lead to 51-41.

That was as close as the Bulldogs would get as the Flames outscored the visitors, 29-24, to close out the game as Smith dunked home the ball with 11.1 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

On Blair’s historic night, he scored 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting with five assists, five steals and four rebounds. Blair now needs 139 points to take sole possession of first place on the Big South career scoring list.

Dwight Brewington led the Flames with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting with six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Alex McLean added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Smith chipped in 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the victory.

Liberty connected on 61.5 percent of their field goal attempts in the game, making 32-of-52 from the floor. Aided by 52 points in the paint, the Flames shot over 60 percent for the second-consecutive outing.

The Bulldogs got a big night from Garland, who had a game-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Smithson added 16 points in the loss. Brett Warner was strong on the glass, grabbing seven rebounds to go with his seven points.

The Flames conclude their three-game homestand on Saturday when the High Point Panthers visit the Vines Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

http://libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID= ... 7&TeamID=6

[whmatthews]

I'm pumped for the High Point game now. I don't have the mascot on that game, and if I don't have to work (which I will try to get out of) I'm dressing up and going all out. I'm down for a tailgate for the CSU game.

[Sly Fox]

And from Chris:

Blair scores 2,000th point in LU victory over UNC Asheville

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
January 31, 2007

A perception exists that basketball games cannot be won or lost in the first five minutes.

Liberty's Dwight Brewington disagrees.

"Start fast, stay strong," Brewington said after the Flames handled UNC Asheville 80-65 Tuesday night at Vines Center.

Liberty did just that, racing to a 29-10 lead in the first 12 minutes. The Flames grinded the rest of the way, never allowing the lead to dip lower than nine points. Liberty (10-12, 4-4 Big South) won its third straight conference game to climb to .500 after a 1-4 start and moved into a tie for third place with Coastal Carolina.

"We definitely talk about it," said Flames guard Larry Blair, who scored 15 points and added five assists, five steals and four rebounds. His up-and-under fast-break layup with 17:33 left in the first half gave him 2,000 points for his career. "Just get out in the first four minutes before the media (timeout) and find a good groove. It's something we're definitely going to keep trying to do."

Slow starts cost LU in two early conference losses. The Flames trailed 37-18 at halftime in the first meeting with UNCA, an 84-77 loss at Justice Center. LU fell behind 31-13 at High Point two weeks ago, rallied to tie, but ran out of gas and lost by seven.

"Coming out of the gate, they've really done what we've asked them to do the last two games (LU led VMI by 23 at halftime last Saturday)," Liberty coach Randy Dunton said. "It's reflected in those first halves."

Liberty did a much better job this time of attacking 7-foot-7 center Kenny George, who has actually grown an inch since starting classes in the fall. The Flames still drove at him, but Brewington (16 points) and Anthony Smith (11 points) both lofted high, tear-drop floaters over George's outstretched arms for baskets.

George had six blocked shots in the first half in the first meeting, giving the Bulldogs (7-15, 3-5) a major momentum boost. By getting buckets over George, the momentum turned in Liberty's favor.

"I had the idea to float shots and that helped a lot," Brewington said. "Another thing that helped was that we tried to beat him and tried to make him work. That would make their coach think, 'OK, we can't put him in. We're losing.'"

George only played four minutes in the game but generated an odd buzz from the crowd when he was on the floor. Fans booed when UNCA coach Eddie Biedenbach pulled him in the second half.

Liberty grinded out the last 30 minutes, withstanding a perimeter barrage from UNCA guard K.J. Garland, who scored 25 points and hit 5 of 8 3-pointers. The Bulldogs never gained enough steam to seriously dent Liberty's lead.

"(Liberty is) playing much better as a team (than in the first meeting)," Biedenbach said. "Brewington is doing a much better job of fitting in with this club. They came ready to play tonight. They played well together and, athletically, took advantage of us. We never put them in a position where they were questioning themselves."

TIP-INS: Liberty will play at Niagara on Feb. 17 in ESPNU's BracketBusters event. Other games involving Big South teams are Canisius at Coastal Carolina and Winthrop at Missouri State. The WU-MSU game will be one of 14 nationally televised games. Niagara, which is 10-11 overall and 5-5 in the MAAC, will return the trip to Lynchburg next year. * Blair was honored at midcourt at the first media timeout after scoring his 2,000th point. He's the 429th Division I player to reach the mark. "It's a blessing to be able to do such a thing and be in an elite group," he said. "It just shows the dedication and hard work I put in to my development, that was just being rewarded tonight." * Brewington is 18 of 22 from the floor his last two games. He also had six rebounds, three assists and two steals Tuesday. * Guard Justin Holland suffered a grade one right ankle sprain in the first half and didn't return. He's questionable for Saturday's game against High Point, Dunton said.

http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Sate ... th=!sports

[WWJFD]

I am happy for the W. The only thing that concerns me lately is the poor FT shooting. That may bite us in the butt in a close game. Otherwise, looks like we played pretty darn good. HPU is low hanging fruit. Ripe for the picking. Go Raford, knock them off this week and we will add to the HPU over rated start.

[Ed Dantes]

Pathetic crowd. You can't tell me 3,000 students had night class tonite.

Spiritual. Emphasis. Week.

That is why we won right there. JESUS was on our side. He is AWESOME (Danny Lovet sighting)

I used to have a pic of Lovett taking off his hat (both of them) singing the national anthem. Priceless.

[bigsmooth]

nice win by the guys last night. brew is really playing well, and the uptempo game suits him well as the whole team. i still wish holland or jenkins were running the point, but im impressed with this teams' resolve and finishing the 1st half 4-4 is great. there were more than the announced attendance, but im sure they cut that off at halftime. it was a good but quite crowd. if we keep winning the crowds will grow. let's get high point!

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

Honestly, I thought, That Holland was going to Get about 15-20 min last night and I really think he would have had he not got hurt. I told scar that a few days ago and he was well on his way, I just hope he gets back soon from what i hear he wont be out too long