2017–18 Liberty Flames basketball team

The 2017–18 Liberty Flames men's basketball team represented Liberty University in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in Lynchburg, Virginia for the 28th consecutive season at Vines Center, with a capacity of 8,085. The team was led by Ritchie McKay, who was in his fifth season, but third season since his return to the program. They were members of the Big South Conference. They finished the season 22–14, 9–9 in Big South play, to finish in a four-way tie for fifth place. They defeated Campbell and UNC Asheville to advance to the championship game of the Big South tournament where they lost to Radford. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated North Carolina A&T in the first round in a game referred to as the Jim Phelan Classic. They received a second-round bye and defeated Central Michigan in the quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals to UIC.

2017–18 Liberty Flames basketball
Jim Phelan Classic champions
CIT, semifinals
Conference	Big South Conference
Record	22–15 (9–9 Big South)
Head coach	Ritchie McKay (3rd (5th overall) season)
Assistant coaches	Brad Soucie (3rd (5th) season) Kyle Getter (3rd season) Vic Sfera (2nd season)
Home arena	Vines Center

2017–18 Big South men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
UNC Asheville	13	–	5		.722			21	–	13		.618
Radford †	12	–	6		.667			23	–	13		.639
Winthrop	12	–	6		.667			19	–	12		.613
Campbell	10	–	8		.556			18	–	16		.529
Liberty	9	–	9		.500			22	–	15		.595
Charleston Southern	9	–	9		.500			15	–	16		.484
High Point	9	–	9		.500			14	–	16		.467
Gardner–Webb	9	–	9		.500			14	–	18		.438
Presbyterian	4	–	14		.222			11	–	21		.344
Longwood	3	–	15		.167			7	–	26		.212
† 2018 Big South tournament winner

This was Liberty's final season as members of the Big South Conference, as the school announced on May 17, 2018 that they will be moving to the ASUN Conference for the 2018–19 season.

Previous season

The Flames finished the 2016–17 season 21–14, 14–4 in Big South play, to finish in a third place. They were upset in quarterfinals of the Big South tournament by Radford. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated Norfolk State in the first round to be champions of the Coach John McLendon Classic. In the second round they defeated Samford before losing in the quarterfinals to UMBC.

2017–18 departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Notes
AC Reid	2	Guard	6'5"	190	Junior	Spring Branch, TX	Transferred to Tennessee State
Xzavier Barmore	4	Guard	6'0"	165	Freshman	Seneca, SC	Transferred to College of Central Florida
Ray Chen	13	Guard	6'1"	185	Graduate student	Miaoli, Taiwan	Graduated
John Dawson	22	Guard	6'2"	205	Senior	Clovis, NM	Graduated
Josiah Talbert	34	Forward	6'8"	210	Freshman	Olathe, KS	Transferred to Central Missouri

2017–18 newcomers

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Elijah Cuffee G	Poca, WV	Liberty Christian Academy	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	185 lb (84 kg)
	Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Keegan McDowell G	Cincinnati, OH	Moeller High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	180 lb (82 kg)
	Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Jay Barber G	Lynchburg, VA	Liberty Christian Academy	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	175 lb (79 kg)
	Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Brendan Newton C	Roanoke, VA	Faith Christian School	7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)	235 lb (107 kg)
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Isaiah Williams F	Dayton, OH	Akron	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	210 lb (95 kg)
	Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Roster

2017–18 Liberty Flames men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown F 0 Myo Baxter-Bell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 255 lb (116 kg) RS So Chaminade Julieen High School Dayton, OH G 1 Caleb Homesley 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) RS So Porter Ridge High School Indian Trail, NC G 3 Lovell Cabbil 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 155 lb (70 kg) Jr Mansfield Summit High School Arlington, Texas G/F 5 Ryan Kemrite 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Sr Satch Homeschool Conroe, TX G/F 10 Elijah Cuffee 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Liberty Christian Academy Poca, WV G 11 Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) So Deep Run High School Ponce, Puerto Rico F 13 Isaiah Williams 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS Fr Akron Dayton, OH G 14 Brody Hicks 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Cave Spring High School Roanoke, VA G 15 Zach Farquhar (W) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 160 lb (73 kg) RS Jr Sycamore High School Cincinnati, OH G/F 20 Keegan McDowell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Moeller High School Cincinnati, OH F 24 Ezra Talbert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS Jr Olathe East High School Olathe, KS F 31 Scottie James 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS So Bradley Tarpon Springs, FL G 44 Ryan Hiepler (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Oaks Christian High Westlake Village, CA C 55 Brendan Newton 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Fr Faith Christian High Roanoke, VA	Head coach Ritchie McKay (Seattle Pacific) Assistant coach(es) Brad Soucie (Christian Heritage) Kyle Getter (Hanover College) Vic Sfera (Memphis) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: July 23, 2024

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
October 26, 2017* 7:00 p.m.		at VCU Hurricane Relief Exhibition	W 85–69	–	23 – Talbert	8 – James	4 – Cuffee	Siegel Center (3,497) Richmond, VA
Non-conference regular season
November 10, 2017* 7:00 p.m.		Clarks Summit Paradise Jam campus game	W 87–42	1–0	13 – tied	7 – Cabbil	3 – Kemrite	Vines Center (4,094) Lynchburg, VA
November 14, 2017* 7:00 p.m., ACCN Extra		at Wake Forest	W 79–66	2–0	22 – Cabbil	14 – James	4 – Williams	LJVM Coliseum (5,213) Winston-Salem, NC
November 17, 2017* 12:00 p.m.		Mercer Paradise Jam first round	L 48–63	2–1	15 – Cabbil	6 – James	4 – Cabbil	Vines Center (1,022) Lynchburg, VA
November 18, 2017* 12:00 p.m.		Houston Paradise Jam consolation	L 66–68	2–2	16 – Pacheco-Ortiz	7 – James	3 – Williams	Vines Center (815) Lynchburg, VA
November 19, 2017* 12:00 p.m.		vs. Quinnipiac Paradise Jam 7th-place game	W 84–72	3–2	21 – James	8 – James	2 – 5 tied	Vines Center (640) Lynchburg, VA
November 25, 2017* 2:00 p.m.		Toccoa Falls	W 96–50	4–2	18 – Baxter-Bell	10 – James	6 – Homesley	Vines Center (1,675) Lynchburg, VA
November 27, 2017* 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		Howard	W 75–55	5–2	17 – Pacheco-Ortiz	10 – James	4 – tied	Vines Center (2,169) Lynchburg, VA
December 2, 2017* 1:00 p.m., ESPN3		UNC Greensboro	L 75–76 3OT	5–3	19 – James	15 – James	3 – Cabbil	Vines Center (2,294) Lynchburg, VA
December 4, 2017* 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		at Georgia State	W 77–74 OT	6–3	17 – James	9 – James	5 – Cabbil	GSU Sports Arena (1,074) Atlanta, GA
December 8, 2017* 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		Maryland Eastern Shore	W 71–49	7–3	12 – Kemrite	7 – James	4 – 3 tied	Vines Center (2,380) Lynchburg, VA
December 16, 2017* 1:00 p.m.		Kentucky Christian	W 96–40	8–3	21 – Cabbil	8 – Homesley	5 – Cabbil	Vines Center (2,063) Lynchburg, VA
December 21, 2017* 11:00 a.m.		vs. Fort Wayne New Orleans Classic	L 64–75	8–4	15 – 3 tied	12 – James	4 – tied	Xavier University Academic Convocation Center (300) New Orleans, LA
December 22, 2017* 1:00 p.m.		vs. Alabama State New Orleans Classic	W 87–70	9–4	19 – Pacheco-Ortiz	8 – James	7 – Pacheco-Ortiz	Xavier University Academic Convocation Center (250) New Orleans, LA
Big South regular season
December 30, 2017 7:00 p.m.		at Gardner–Webb	L 55–58	9–5 (0–1)	11 – James	13 – James	4 – Pacheco-Ortiz	Paul Porter Arena (1,250) Boiling Springs, NC
January 2, 2018 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		Charleston Southern	W 70–53	10–5 (1–1)	27 – Pacheco-Ortiz	15 – James	5 – Cuffee	Vines Center (1,688) Lynchburg, VA
January 6, 2018 4:00 p.m., ESPN3		Presbyterian	W 60–48	11–5 (2–1)	14 – Pacheco-Ortiz	12 – James	4 – Pacheco-Ortiz	Vines Center (2,216) Lynchburg, VA
January 9, 2018 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		at Winthrop	W 73–70	12–5 (3–1)	19 – Cabbil	6 – tied	5 – Cabbil	Winthrop Coliseum (1,085) Rock Hill, SC
January 12, 2018 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		Longwood	L 51–58	12–6 (3–2)	10 – Cabbil	6 – James	3 – Pacheco-Ortiz	Vines Center (1,989) Lynchburg, VA
January 15, 2018 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		at Radford	L 57–59 OT	12–7 (3–3)	14 – Cabbil	4 – Cabbil	4 – Pacheco-Ortiz	Dedmon Center (1,493) Radford, VA
January 18, 2018 7:00 p.m.		at High Point	L 60–71	12–8 (3–4)	17 – Baxter-Bell	10 – James	3 – Cabbil	Millis Athletic Center (1,214) High Point, NC
January 21, 2018 2:00 p.m., Stadium		UNC Asheville	L 68–84	12–9 (3–5)	19 – James	8 – Homesley	5 – Homesley	Vines Center (2,426) Lynchburg, VA
January 23, 2018 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		Campbell	L 85–94	12–10 (3–6)	24 – Pacheco-Ortiz	6 – Kemrite	4 – Pacheco-Ortiz	Vines Center (2,452) Lynchburg, VA
January 27, 2018 4:00 p.m.		at Presbyterian	W 81–66	13–10 (4–6)	21 – Kemrite	7 – James	6 – Pacheco-Ortiz	Templeton Center (493) Clinton, SC
February 1, 2018 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		Winthrop	W 77–61	14–10 (5–6)	21 – James	8 – James	5 – Pacheco-Ortiz	Vines Center (2,422) Lynchburg, VA
February 3, 2018 2:00 p.m.		at Longwood	W 67–55	15–10 (6–6)	26 – James	10 – James	4 – Homesley	Willett Hall (1,807) Farmville, VA
February 7, 2018 7:30 p.m., ESPN3		at Charleston Southern	L 75–87	15–11 (6–7)	15 – Cabbil	6 – James	4 – Pacheco-Ortiz	CSU Field House (725) North Charleston, SC
February 10, 2018 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		Gardner–Webb	W 77–65	16–11 (7–7)	15 – tied	9 – tied	7 – Cabbil	Vines Center (3,197) Lynchburg, VA
February 15, 2018 7:00 p.m.		at UNC Ahseville	W 82–69 OT	17–11 (8–7)	23 – James	15 – James	6 – Cuffee	Kimmel Arena (1,719) Asheville, NC
February 18, 2018 2:00 p.m., ESPN3		at Campbell	L 69–79	17–12 (8–8)	14 – Kemrite	6 – tied	4 – 3 tied	Gore Arena (2,126) Buies Creek, NC
February 22, 2018 7:00 p.m., ESPN3		Radford	L 50–63	17–13 (8–9)	15 – James	4 – Pacheco-Ortiz	6 – Cabbil	Vines Center (2,669) Lynchburg, VA
February 24, 2018 2:00 p.m., ESPN3		High Point	W 65–45	18–13 (9–9)	21 – James	7 – James	5 – Pacheco-Ortiz	Vines Center (3,517) Lynchburg, VA
Big South tournament
March 1, 2018 9:30 p.m., ESPN3	(5)	vs. (4) Campbell Quarterfinals	W 73–59	19–13	14 – tied	9 – James	2 – 3 tied	Kimmel Arena (2,276) Asheville, NC
March 2, 2018 8:30 p.m., ESPN3	(5)	at (1) UNC Asheville Semifinals	W 69–64	20–13	18 – James	14 – James	3 – Cabbil	Kimmel Arena (2,318) Asheville, NC
March 4, 2018 1:00 p.m., ESPN	(5)	at (2) Radford Championship	L 52–55	20–14	20 – James	13 – James	7 – Cabbil	Dedmon Center (3,859) Radford, VA
CIT
March 12, 2018* 6:00 p.m., CBSSN		North Carolina A&T First round – Jim Phelan Classic	W 65–52	21–14	16 – Homesley	12 – James	3 – tied	Vines Center (486) Lynchburg, VA
March 24, 2018* 2:00 p.m.		Central Michigan Quarterfinals	W 84–71	22–14	20 – James	9 – James	13 – Cabbil	Vines Center (476) Lynchburg, VA
March 28, 2018* 7:00 p.m., CBSSN		UIC Semifinals	L 51–67	22–15	13 – Cabbil	9 – tied	3 – tied	Vines Center (2,248) Lynchburg, VA
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern.

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