Flames hold on to complete sweep of Highlanders

RADFORD — For the first time all year, an opponent schemed specifically to slow down Liberty forward Antwan Burrus. And early on Saturday at Radford’s Dedmon Center, Burrus didn’t respond. His first 10 minutes were as rough a stretch as he’s played all season. He missed his first two shots and had three turnovers, and he finished the half scoreless.

Liberty’s offensive effort was reflective of Burrus’ struggles. The Flames went more than seven minutes without scoring at one point, allowing Radford to build a lead. With as poorly as they played before halftime, the Flames were fortunate to be down only five points at the break.

Liberty coach Dale Layer challenged Burrus in the locker room, and the 6-foot-6 junior responded accordingly. Burrus scored 15 second-half points, and with his game in order, the Flames rallied. They hit their final 16 free throws, got key defensive stops and slipped out of town with a 67-65 victory.

Considering that LU was 1-7 in conference play two weeks ago after an overtime home loss to Winthrop, winning two of out three during a two-week road stretch is a significant accomplishment. Now they’ll return home next Thursday to face Gardner-Webb, playing in front of LU’s students for the first time since early December, hoping to make a late-season run in the Big South standings.

"We’ve been a team that has not quit, kept battling and kept fighting in practice," said Flames point guard Jesse Sanders, who finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists and knocked down a pair of free throws with 7.4 seconds left to seal the win.

"Yes, we were 1-7. But I didn’t feel like we were a 1-7 team. I’ve been on winning teams, and this is the team that’s lost the most early in the season that I’ve ever been on. But it didn’t feel different. A lot of those losses have been close, one or two possession games. I’m thankful the guys have kept working."

Burrus’ second-half performance showed just how important he is to Liberty’s success. Radford (4-20, 1-11 Big South) threw a few tricks at Burrus in the early going, and without production from the big forward, Liberty’s offense slowed to a crawl.

"When I’d put the ball on the floor, the guards were dropping down and knocking the ball out of my hands," Burrus said. "I should have been kicking it out when I was doubled. But I was just frustrated, trying to get going. But my teammates told me they were going to keep giving me the ball, so I had to step up."

Burrus drew some favorable matchups in the second half. With Radford forwards Javonte Green and Tolga Cerrah in foul trouble, Radford tried to defend Burrus with 6-3 guards Daniel Mitchell and Blake Smith with little success. Burrus went 5-for-7 from the floor in the second half and hit all five of his free throws.

"Twan’s turning into a beast, man," Sanders said. "We’re a different team when he’s playing that way. He’s a force inside. They didn’t have an answer for him."

The Flames’ only answer for Green, who scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 23 minutes, was Green himself. He fouled out with 2:51 left as John Caleb Sanders drew a charge. Three of Green’s five fouls were block/charge calls that didn’t go his way, including one with two seconds left in the first half.

"I probably should have taken him out of the game," Radford coach Mike Jones said. "But we were on offense, and the block/charge is such a hard call to make. I thought it was a block. They thought it was a charge. It’s a different story if he goes to the free-throw line."

Joel Vander Pol hit a free throw with 14:46 left to put the Flames (8-15, 3-8) up 37-36, Liberty’s first lead since 2-0. Radford tied it at 44 after Green’s three-point play with 11:17 left, but Burrus put the Flames up for good with a three-point play with 10:05 left.

RU drew within 61-60 on Blake Smith’s corner jumper just inside the 3-point line with 1:36 left and had a chance to take the lead after Smith blocked Sanders’ shot at the other end and grabbed the rebound. But Smith missed a shot and Sanders rebounded, and Tavares Speaks drilled two free throws with 27.1 seconds left to put Liberty up 63-60.

R.J. Price’s deep 3 with 8.3 seconds left cut the lead to 65-63. Sanders was fouled immediately and hit two free throws to seal the win. Two weeks ago, he missed a free-throw late against Winthrop, giving the Eagles an opportunity to force overtime.

"In all reality, you’re not going to shoot 100 percent," Sanders said. "But I’ve put in the repetition and the confidence is there. Fortunately tonight, they were going in for us. Trap [Speaks] hit the four big ones down the stretch, and I hit those two at the end. You can practice ’til you’re blue in the face. But at game time, you’ve still got to go 2-for-2."

The Flames did so consistently, allowing them to win on Radford’s home floor for the fourth straight year.