Liberty defeats FIU 94-97
Thrilling Upset: Liberty Edges FIU 97-94 in Conference Showdown
In a back-and-forth battle that had fans on the edge of their seats, the visiting Liberty Flames outlasted the Panthers of Florida International University (FIU) 97-94 at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The thrilling conference matchup was a testament to both teams' dedication and resilience.
The game's ebb and flow mirrored the back-and-forth nature of the contest, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage until the final minutes. At halftime, Liberty held a narrow 33-41 lead, but it was clear that this was going to be a long night for both teams.
As the second half got underway, Liberty continued to push forward, fueled by the hot hand of Brett Decker Jr., who poured in 27 points on 5-of-11 three-point shooting. The Flames' bench also chipped in with crucial contributions, helping Liberty build an 8-point lead at one point.
However, FIU refused to back down, and Eric Dibami's 21 points helped the Panthers narrow the gap to just 3 points as time expired. Despite a valiant effort from Corey Stephenson, who grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 17 points, FIU ultimately came up short.
Liberty's Colin Porter, meanwhile, was instrumental in the victory, dishing out 7 assists and scoring 16 points off the bench. Josh Smith also had a strong outing, hauling in 9 rebounds and adding 13 points to the Flames' total.
The advanced statistics paint an even more dramatic picture of this thrilling matchup. Liberty's true shooting percentage (63.8%) was significantly higher than FIU's (56.5%), a testament to the Flames' ability to score efficiently from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, FIU struggled with turnovers, committing 14 on the night – a stark contrast to Liberty's more disciplined approach.
The significance of this win cannot be overstated, as it marks a major upset in conference play. With the rankings on the line, Liberty's victory sends a clear message that they are a team to be reckoned with. For FIU, meanwhile, this is a tough pill to swallow after a promising season gets derailed by a single game.
As the Flames celebrated their hard-fought victory, it was clear that this one would be remembered for a long time.