by Malcolm Butler
Amaree Abram had a tall task Saturday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.
The Louisiana Tech guard was asked to chase (and stop) Liberty sharp-shooter and leading scorer Kaden Metheny all over the floor during the marquee Conference USA showdown.
Abram received an A+ from Tech head coach Talvin Hester for his effort following the Bulldogs 79-74 win over the Flames.
Metheny, who entered the game averaging 15 points per game and shooting 43 percent from the three-point line, scored a career-low 3 points on just 1-of-8 shooting, including 1-of-5 three-pointers.
“That is the Amaree Abram I know,” said Hester following the game. “He is one of the best defenders I have seen at his position. If he locks in every night, that is what he is capable of doing. Hopefully we lit a fire under him because that was an unbelievable performance.
“It was the best performance of the night. I know people look at points, but if he does not do that to [Kaden] Metheny, we do not win this basketball. He took the challenge.”
And is if that wasn’t enough, Abram added 13 points, 11 coming in the decisive second half, including three momentum-changing three-pointers and two victory-sealing free throws with 10 seconds to play.
“I felt like everybody locked in,” said Abram. “We wanted to stop the main guys, try to keep them out of the paint and limit their threes. My teammates helped me. Everybody played a part on defense.”
Tech (13-4, 2-2) handed Liberty (14-3, 2-2) just its third loss of the season in a huge early-season conference match-up.
But it didn’t come easy.
Tech trailed 34-24 late in the first quarter after the Flames hit three straight three-pointers on three straight trips. The Bulldogs also had to overcome a 33-point effort by Liberty reserve guard Taelon Peter, who scored 21 of the Flames 40 points in the second half.
The Bulldogs not only won with defense, but found a way to pour in 52 second half points against a team that ranked seventh in the country in scoring defense (59.3 ppga).
“Liberty is a great defensive team,” said Hester. “We ended up spreading them out to see if they could guard us one-on-one.”
It was the Sean Newman, Jr.-Daniel Batcho show early for Tech as the dynamic Dogs duo combined for 41 of Tech’s first 48 points of the contest. A pair of Batcho free throws with 11:54 to play in the game gave Tech a 48-45 lead.
Following the free throws Batcho came out of the game for a breather and gave way for back-up forward Sean Elkinton, who was averaging 5.0 points a game in just seven appearances prior to Saturday night, didn’t let his teammates or the TAC crowd down.
The Crosby, Texas, native scored 12 points in six minutes — nine coming in during this three-minute stretch — as he helped extend the Bulldogs lead to 60-51 when Batcho returned to the game with 8:40 to play.
“I feel like he is healthy now,” said Hester. “He was a huge spark. I think when he came in it was a three-point game and by the time he leaves we are up nine. Twelve points in six minutes is dynamic. He hit every free throw. He hit threes, scored it on the low post. He showed his complete package.”
Trying to protect the lead against a Liberty team that wouldn’t give up, it was then Abram’s turn for some offensive heroics. The junior, who had been held to just two points through the first 33 minutes of the game, connected on three three-pointers over the next four minutes, each one keeping the Flames at arm’s length.
His final three-pointer with 3:06 to play pushed the advantage to 71-62.
However, Liberty and Peters still weren’t done. The Flame closed the deficit to 73-71 on a pair of Peters free throws with 43 seconds to play, making it a one possession game.
Enter Newman.
On the next possession, the Los Angeles native drove down the right side of the lane and finished off the glass in traffic to push the advantage back to four at 75-71 with 29 seconds to play.
“We put a ball screen in and let Sean [Newman Jr.] get downhill and make plays,” said Hester about his point guard who scored a career-high 27 points and also had eight assists in the win. “He is one of the best decision makers in the country.”
Abram added two free throws with 10 seconds left to seal the win for Tech.
Batcho recorded a double double with 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
The 79 points were the most Liberty has allowed in a game this season and the Bulldogs also held the Flames to a season low in three-pointers made with seven.
Tech will travel to Jacksonville, Alabama, Thursday to face Jacksonville State.
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