CLINTON, S.C. -- Ryan Kemrite hit three 3-pointers and finished with 16 points, Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz added three more 3s and scored 13 and Liberty beat Presbyterian 77-61 in the Big South Conference opener for both teams on Thursday night.

Brock Gardner had 11 points for Liberty, which tied a season high with 12 3-pointers.

The Flames (6-8) missed six of their first seven shots and trailed 7-2 but shot 61 percent the rest of the way and scored the next 15 points to take the lead for good. Gardner scored eight, including two 3-pointers, during the run and Presbyterian went scoreless for six minutes, 26 seconds. Liberty led 31-23 at the break and made 17 of 26 (65 percent) from the field, including seven 3s.

J.C. Younger led Presbyterian (4-8) with a career-high 21 points. The Blue Hose shot just 17 percent (3 of 18) from behind the arc.