Liberty Stunned at Home by Kennesaw State on Their Senior Night (3-2-25)
By: Xavier Jones
Headline Photo Credit: Arturo Jones-LMS Network
In a thrilling Conference USA men’s basketball matchup on Sunday, March 2, 2025, the Kennesaw State Owls edged out the Liberty Flames with a final score of 85-80 at Liberty Arena in Lynchburg, VA.
The game commenced with Liberty taking an early lead, heading into halftime with a 44-39 advantage. The Flames showcased efficient shooting, hitting 57% from the field and 56% from beyond the arc during the first half. While Kennesaw State shot 48% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. In the second half, Kennesaw State responded vigorously after the break. The Owls improved their shooting accuracy, achieving a 64% field goal percentage and 55% from three-point range in the second half. This offensive surge enabled them to outscore Liberty 46-36 in the half, culminating in their five-point victory. This victory improves Kennesaw State’s record to 17-13 overall and 9-8 in Conference USA play. Conversely, Liberty’s loss snaps their six-game winning streak, bringing their record to 23-6 overall and 11-5 in the conference. The defeat also resulted in Liberty relinquishing their first-place position in the conference standings to Jacksonville State.
The key performances from the game were the following:
Liberty:
Owen Aquino: Tallied 16 points and six rebounds, showcasing his presence in the paint.
Kaden Metheny: Matched Aquino with 16 points, including three three-pointers.
Taelon Peter: Provided a spark off the bench with 14 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting.
Kennesaw State:
Simeon Cottle: Led all scorers with 24 points, shooting 9-of-16 from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point range.
Adrian Wooley: Contributed 22 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, playing a pivotal role in the Owls’ offense.
Braedan Lue: Added 13 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting.
Team Statistics:
Field Goal Percentage: Kennesaw State 51%, Liberty 46%
Three-Point Percentage: Kennesaw State 38% (11-of-29), Liberty 38% (9-of-24)
Free Throw Percentage: Kennesaw State 77% (10-of-13), Liberty 75% (27-of-36)
Rebounds: Kennesaw State 35 (6 offensive), Liberty 26 (2 offensive)
Assists: Kennesaw State 17, Liberty 15
Turnovers: Kennesaw State 10, Liberty 9
Kennesaw State will look to build on this momentum as they face Jacksonville State on the road next Saturday. Liberty aims to rebound in their upcoming matchup against Middle Tennessee on Thursday. The Owls’ resilience and second-half performance underscore their potential as the season approaches its climax, while the Flames will seek to regroup and finish strong in their remaining games.
