Daytona Beach, Fla.  – In their final trip to the Ocean Center this season, the Wildcats stuck with Liberty until the final whistle, but fell to the Flames, 59-51, Tuesday night.
 
Summary
 
The Wildcats (1-5, 0-0 SWAC) jumped out to a 19-12 lead midway through the first half of play thanks to eight early points from Joe French. Liberty (2-3, 0-0 ASUN) closed the gap with an 8-0 run and entered the break leading, 34-29.
 
Things started to unravel for the Wildcats as the second half began. B-CU scored only seven points in the opening 12 minutes of the frame while Liberty's lead ballooned to 36-53. The Wildcats continued to fight and stopped the bleeding with a 15-6 run, but it was not enough as Liberty closed out the victory, 59-51.
 
Liberty's Darius McGhee was the difference in the game for the Flames, scoring 27 including 6-12 from three-point range. French led all Wildcats with 25 for the contest after a deep buzzer-beating three as time expired. He also added seven rebounds and a steal. Damani McEntire scored ten.
 
Head coach Reggie Theus is optimistic after his team's recent efforts.
 
"We've played three out of the last four nights against teams picked to win their conference," Theus said. "We took them all the way to deep in the second half with opportunities to win. I told our guys if they stay together and keep working on the defensive end, we can develop into a very good basketball team."
 
Though not the results the Wildcats may want, Theus looked at the positives of B-CU's non-conference play:
 
"This is what this part of the season is about," Theus said. "We have to continue to grow. If we can play tough like this and learn what we need to do for conference, then it's all worth it.
 
Game Notes

• Liberty attempted 33 three pointers in the contest – McGhee converted 6-12, while Keegan McDowell made five of eight. Only one other Flame made a three in the game.
• Only five Wildcats contributed to B-CU's 51 points
• The Wildcats were only charged with nine fouls in the game, resulting in only five free throw attempts for the Flames

 
Up Next
The Wildcats face their biggest challenge yet this weekend when they travel to New Jersey to take on #21 Seton Hall, Sunday, Nov. 28 at 12 p.m.
 
Check out B-CU Men's Basketball on Twitter to stay up to date with everything Wildcats Hoops. Subscribe to The CatEye Network on YouTube to stream all of Bethune-Cookman athletics home events.