Cuffee, Homesley with 19 each, Liberty wallops Georgia State

Dec 2, 2018, 01:37 am

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Elijah Cuffee and Caleb Homesley scored 19 points each and accounted for eight of Liberty's 11 3-point baskets as the Flames torched Georgia State 78-52 Saturday night in a clash of mid-major teams.

Liberty outscored the Panthers 46-23 in the second half when the pressure was cranked way up. Georgia State committed seven of its 10 turnovers in the second half and was out-rebounded 22-8 while shooting 7-for-21 from the field -- just 1-for-9 from behind the 3-point arc. On the other end, Liberty was shooting 59 percent, 16 of 27, including seven 3-pointers. The Flames never took their foot off the gas, scoring baskets on six of their last eight possessions.

The Flames have won four straight since a nine-point loss to Vanderbilt. The score was a season-low for Georgia State, which had put up 91 and 80 points in back-to-back wins prior to Saturday. Georgia State was ranked 20th in the most recent mid-majors poll.

Georgie Pacheco hit consecutive 3-pointers and Liberty's lead grew from three points to nine before the second half was a minute old. The Flames outscored Georgia State 21-8 to start the second half while the Panthers were shooting 2 of 9.

D'Marcus Simonds scored 22 points for Georgia State, nobody else scored more than nine. Simonds was 8-for-18 in the first half, 1-for-3 in the second and committed five of his six turnovers in the second half.