The Liberty Flames (3-10) will try to put an end to their nine-game skid when they meet the VCU Rams (6-5) at Stuart Siegel Center. Action begins at 5:00 pm ET on Sunday, Dec. 27.
The Rams enter this game hoping for similar success after dismantling Buffalo 90-69 in their last matchup. Melvin Johnson was the game’s leading scorer with 22 points on 7-for-11 shooting. The Flames, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their 64-55 loss against St. Francis Brooklyn in their last game. Liberty lost despite the best efforts of John Dawson, who recorded his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
This one might be a mistake-prone game for the Liberty offense, which ranks 337th in the nation in miscues (TO% of 22.6%). It’s matched up against the disruptive VCU defense, which causes the seventh-most turnovers in the nation (25.6%).
Notes
The VCU Rams have a defensive rating of 96.1 (ranked 83rd), while the Liberty Flames have an offensive rating of 98.1 (ranked 286th).
VCU has an average field goal percentage of 41.3%. Liberty is an abysmal 2-8 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The VCU Rams and the Liberty Flames both rank higher in average effective field goal percentage when compared to their field goal percentages. VCU is 286th and 269th in the nation for FG% and eFG% respectively, while Liberty is 111th and 77th in these categories.
VCU ranks 36th in offensive rebounding. Liberty ranks 310th in defensive rebounding.
Ranked seventh, VCU averages a forced turnover percentage of 25.6% this season. When the Liberty Flames suffer a turnover rate equal to or exceeding this, the team is winless with a 0-3 record.
