Second Half Spurt Lifts Liberty Over Upstate

Tuesday, December 23

University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics

Liberty

12/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Dec. 23, 2008

Box Score

Las Vegas, Nev. - Anthony Smith came out hot in the second half, scoring 13 of Liberty's first 16 points as the Flames pulled away in the second half for a 77-64 victory over USC Upstate in both teams' final game of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic at the Orleans Arena Tuesday afternoon.

Upstate fell to 1-10 on the year with the loss, despite another strong effort by forward Bobby Davis. Davis was named to the All-Tournament team for the Las Vegas Classic after averaging 14.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in the four-game tournament. The Spartans will now take off a few days for the Holidays before hitting the hardwood on Jan. 3 in the A-Sun home opener against North Florida. Liberty improved to 9-3 on the year.

"This is a game that we needed more time to prepare for. Their 1-3-1 defense bothered us. We didn't pass, catch or shoot the ball very well. We didn't have time to practice against the 1-3-1 and we hadn't seen it. We did not handle that very well," said Upstate head coach Eddie Payne.

Davis finished the game with 14 points and 11 rebounds for his third straight double-double of the tournament and his fifth of the season. He also added a career-high seven assists.

"Bobby is really playing well. He has stepped his game up and is more aggressive. He has averaged a double-double and has upped his game significantly," said Payne.

While Liberty was able to pull away in the second half, it certainly was not the case in the first half as Upstate battled its way to a 36-35 lead at halftime.

Liberty could not figure out a way to stop Nick Schneiders early in the game. With none of the Liberty starters standing taller than 6-6, the 7-3 junior center dominated early on. Schneiders scored eight of Upstate's first 13 points to push the Spartans to a 13-11 lead.

While Liberty could not stop Schneiders in the first half, Upstate had a hard time figuring out how to stop the Liberty three-point attack. Five of the Flames first seven baskets were three-pointers as Liberty regained the lead and opened a 19-15 advantage.

Liberty finally found a way to slowdown Schneiders by forcing the Spartan into two fouls in the first 10 minutes. He had to sit for most of the rest of the half. With Schneiders on the bench, Liberty took advantage, scoring eight unanswered points to open a 27-18 lead at the third media timeout.

"When Nick picked up his fouls, we had to take him out. That impacted the whole game," said Payne.

Upstate answered with seven unanswered points of its own to cut the lead to two, 27-25, with 5:46 to play. Seth Curry sank a three-pointer after a Liberty offensive rebound to increase the Flame lead to five.

After Liberty had extended its lead to six points, 35-29, Upstate stormed back to take the lead at halftime. After Johnny Stephene converted a layup to give the Flames the 35-29 lead with 1:30 to play before the half, Upstate began its march back to the lead.

Pat Posey started things off with a layup and Gabor Boros sank a three-pointer to get the Spartans within one, 35-34, with 29 seconds to play. The Boros three-pointer came after an offensive rebound. Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay was upset that no call was made against the Spartans on the play and received a technical. Josh Chavis sank both technical free throws to give Upstate the 36-35 lead at the half.

Schneiders paced Upstate in the first half, finishing with 10 points. Chavis added eight. Curry led Liberty with 12 points on four three-pointers as Liberty sank eight from long range in the first half.

Smith took over for Liberty to start the second half. He scored 13 of Liberty's first 16 points of the half to push the Flames to a 51-40 lead with 13:30 to play in the game.

Upstate struggled to make baskets in the second half, making just two baskets in the first eight minutes of the half. Upstate scored its first basket of the half at the 17:03 mark and the second with 15:37 to play in the game. Liberty used Upstate's inability to score to vault out to the lead.

Liberty's pressure defense and more assertive offense paid off as the Flames built a 63-44 lead with 9:06 to play. The Flames shot just two free throws in the first half, but made 12 in the first 11 minutes of the second half to help build the lead. Liberty eventually would go on to build a 22-point lead, 69-47, with 5:08 to play as the Flames went on for the win.

Chavis added 11 points and two assists for Upstate. Schneiders' 10 first half points ended up being his game total as the center was handcuffed with foul trouble for most of the game. Pat Posey finished with a career-high nine points, while Mezie Uzochukwu also added nine.

Smith finished with 21 points for Liberty, scoring 15 in the second half. Curry added 18 points, while Johnny Stephene chipped in with 14. The Flames were 12-of-21 from behind the three-point arc.