Flames' furious comeback falls short in opener at GMU

FAIRFAX — If you’re looking for theatrics or emotional outbursts from a college basketball coach, Dale Layer is probably not your guy.

He was on his best behavior Friday night in his first game as Liberty’s coach. He stayed calm, even though his team trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half. He was composed.

His team followed suit.

The young Flames, with a new coach and a lineup devoid of a superstar guard who now calls Durham home, didn’t throw in the towel. They followed their coach’s lead and rallied to within three points before succumbing to host George Mason 76-72 at the Patriot Center.

“We trusted in ourselves. We were just trying to get after it and trying to give us a chance to win in the end,” said Flames senior wing Kyle Ohman, who had a game-high 23 points and tied for the team lead with seven rebounds. “We had a chance, but a few plays just didn’t go our way.”

Liberty’s season opener might have signaled the coronation of a new standout guard — freshman Evan Gordon. Layer credited Gordon’s defense on GMU sophomore Andre Cornelius for the Flames’ second-half comeback.

“I think Evan Gordon turned the game for us,” Layer said.

Cornelius, who missed one shot and scored nine points in the first half, made only one of four field-goal attempts after the break and finished with 17.

He had a tougher time initiating the Patriots’ offense, thanks to Gordon’s defensive pressure. George Mason (1-0) shot only 32 percent in the second half after making 53.3 percent of its shots in the first.

“He didn’t give Cornelius open looks,” Layer said of Gordon, who finished with six points, five rebounds and four assists. “He set the tone for the point of our defense. He was huge for us, and we fed off it.”

For all the Flames (0-1) did right in the second half, it still wasn’t enough to erase what they did wrong in the first. They struggled from the free throw line, turned the ball over eight times and allowed too many wide-open 3s.

They trailed 40-27 at the half and were down 55-34 before going on a furious scoring binge to get to within one possession with 2:31 left.

That’s where the comeback ended. GMU built its lead back up to seven with buckets by Louis Birdsong and Luke Hancock and escaped its home gym with the win.

“It’s just frustrating going home with all the could-have-beens and should-have-beens,” said Liberty sophomore guard Jesse Sanders, who had 15 points and seven rebounds. “If just a couple of plays go the other way early on … This is just a tough one to swallow.”

Gordon scored all of his points — including a big 3-pointer to cut GMU’s lead to single digits — in the final 6:10.

He said he received a pep talk from his older brother, Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon, before his first collegiate game.

“He remembered his first game (at Indiana in 2007),” Evan said. “He told me to stay calm and to play hard.”

Layer won’t have much time to reflect on Friday’s game. He and the Flames turn right back around and host Southern Virginia tonight at 7 p.m. at the Vines Center.

“I’m an old guy,” Layer said. “I’ve coached a lot of games, so this will quickly be put in the archives. … We need to regroup and play against a good Southern Virginia team that won by 40 the other night (against Virginia Intermont).”