Flames hold off WIldcats' last chances, advance to finals

ST. THOMAS — So much for Kansas State having a home-court advantage.

Liberty proved that didn’t exist for the Wildcats at the University of the Virgin Islands’ Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center on Sunday night, stunning Kansas State 67-65 in the second semifinal of the Paradise Jam tournament. That sends the Flames (6-1) on to tonight’s championship game against McNeese State (4-2), while the Wildcats (5-2) — whose head coach, Jerome Tang, grew up on St. Croix, and assistant coach Jareem Dowling was born there — play in the third-place game against Longwood.

Colin Porter led three players in double figures for Liberty with a game-high 17 points. Isaiah Ihnen added 16 points and Kaden Metheny had 13 points. Brendan Hausen led the Wildcats with 14 points. Coleman Hawkins added 11 points, and David N’Guessan and Achor Achor had 10 points each. Turning point. This one was close from the opening tipoff, with nine lead changes and seven ties – most of those coming in the first half.