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Thursday, January 9
Huntsville, Texas
9:00 PM ET/8:00 PM CT
Liberty University
14-2,2-1CUSA
76
at
68
Sam Houston
7-9,0-3CUSA
1
2
F
Liberty
35
41
76
Sam Houston
33
35
68
Liberty Snaps Sam Houston’s Home Conference Win Streak With 76-68 Victory
1/9/2025 11:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Liberty snapped Sam Houston's 17-game home conference winning streak with a 76-68 victory, Thursday evening.
The Flames bolster their record to 14-2 and 2-1 in CUSA action. Sam Houston slips to 7-9 and 0-3 in league play. The Bearkats entered the night having won their last 17 league home games (eight CUSA, nine WAC). Liberty improves to 3-0 on the road this season. Tonight's contest was the Flames' first true road game in 53 days. Sam Houston (4-1) suffers its first home loss of the 2024-25 campaign.
Liberty had strong contributions across the board, led by Colin Porter's 17 points, which matched a season high. Porter was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, including a half court buzzer beater to end the first half, and 6-of-6 from the foul line while matching a game high with five assists and a game-high three steals. Taelon Peter provided a spark off the bench with 15 points in 21:53 of action. Owen Aquino (10 points, 12 rebounds) notched his fourth double-double of the year, and Zach Cleveland added eight points, seven boards and five assists. Lamar Wilkerson paced the Bearkats with a game-high 25 points.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Colin Porter 17 points, 4-4 FG, 6-6 FT, 5 assists, 3 steals; Taelon Peter 15 points, 6-10 FG; Jayvon Maughmer 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; Owen Aquino 10 points, 12 rebounds; Zach Cleveland 8 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
Sam Houston Individuals: Lamar Wilkerson 25 points, 10-19 FG, 9 rebounds; Marcus Boykin 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists; Cameron Huefner 9 points
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 45.6 percent (26-of-57) on the night, including a 50 percent mark (12-of-24) in the second half. Sam Houston shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57). Liberty is now 12-0 on the season when outshooting its opponents. Both teams shot 40 percent or better from three-point territory, with Liberty connecting on 40.7 percent (11-of-27) to Sam Houston's 40 percent (8-of-20). Both teams grabbed 35 rebounds, and the Flames held a 16-8 edge in assists. Liberty won the turnover battle, committing only 10 while forcing 13 Bearkats turnovers. The Flames capitalized, outscoring the Bearkats 19-7 in points off turnovers. Both teams had exactly 30 points in the paint. Liberty's bench outscored the Sam Houston bench 20-10. The game featured 12 lead changes and seven ties. Liberty led for 28:29 of the 40 minutes, while Sam Houston held the lead for 6:32 (game was tied for 4:59).
Turning Point
After Liberty build a 10-point lead in the second half, 51-41 with 12:48 to play, Sam Houston answered with a quick 10-0 run to knot the score at 51-all with 10:23 left. The Flames responded by scoring 15 of the next 21 points to go up by nine, 66-57, with 5:12 remaining. Colin Porter and Jayvon Maughmer begun that spurt with threes on back-to-back possessions, and Owen Aquino split a pair of free throws and then scored in the paint on the next trip down following a Bearkats turnover. Kaden Metheny buried a crucial three with 5:12 on the clock to put the guests ahead 66-57.
Sam Houston never got closer than within six the rest of the way. Colin Porter helped seal the win at the foul line, going 6-of-6 over the final 1:09.
Key Stats & Notes
Liberty will play another CUSA road contest on Saturday evening, facing preseason conference favorite Louisiana Tech (12-4, 1-2 CUSA). Tip time is 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Central) from the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, La. The game will be on ESPNU.
The Flames and Bulldogs split the season series last year. Liberty topped Louisiana Tech 65-62 at Liberty Arena. The Bulldogs edged the Flames 80-76 in overtime in the meeting in Ruston, La.
The Flames bolster their record to 14-2 and 2-1 in CUSA action. Sam Houston slips to 7-9 and 0-3 in league play. The Bearkats entered the night having won their last 17 league home games (eight CUSA, nine WAC). Liberty improves to 3-0 on the road this season. Tonight's contest was the Flames' first true road game in 53 days. Sam Houston (4-1) suffers its first home loss of the 2024-25 campaign.
Liberty had strong contributions across the board, led by Colin Porter's 17 points, which matched a season high. Porter was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, including a half court buzzer beater to end the first half, and 6-of-6 from the foul line while matching a game high with five assists and a game-high three steals. Taelon Peter provided a spark off the bench with 15 points in 21:53 of action. Owen Aquino (10 points, 12 rebounds) notched his fourth double-double of the year, and Zach Cleveland added eight points, seven boards and five assists. Lamar Wilkerson paced the Bearkats with a game-high 25 points.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Colin Porter 17 points, 4-4 FG, 6-6 FT, 5 assists, 3 steals; Taelon Peter 15 points, 6-10 FG; Jayvon Maughmer 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; Owen Aquino 10 points, 12 rebounds; Zach Cleveland 8 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
Sam Houston Individuals: Lamar Wilkerson 25 points, 10-19 FG, 9 rebounds; Marcus Boykin 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists; Cameron Huefner 9 points
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 45.6 percent (26-of-57) on the night, including a 50 percent mark (12-of-24) in the second half. Sam Houston shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57). Liberty is now 12-0 on the season when outshooting its opponents. Both teams shot 40 percent or better from three-point territory, with Liberty connecting on 40.7 percent (11-of-27) to Sam Houston's 40 percent (8-of-20). Both teams grabbed 35 rebounds, and the Flames held a 16-8 edge in assists. Liberty won the turnover battle, committing only 10 while forcing 13 Bearkats turnovers. The Flames capitalized, outscoring the Bearkats 19-7 in points off turnovers. Both teams had exactly 30 points in the paint. Liberty's bench outscored the Sam Houston bench 20-10. The game featured 12 lead changes and seven ties. Liberty led for 28:29 of the 40 minutes, while Sam Houston held the lead for 6:32 (game was tied for 4:59).
Turning Point
After Liberty build a 10-point lead in the second half, 51-41 with 12:48 to play, Sam Houston answered with a quick 10-0 run to knot the score at 51-all with 10:23 left. The Flames responded by scoring 15 of the next 21 points to go up by nine, 66-57, with 5:12 remaining. Colin Porter and Jayvon Maughmer begun that spurt with threes on back-to-back possessions, and Owen Aquino split a pair of free throws and then scored in the paint on the next trip down following a Bearkats turnover. Kaden Metheny buried a crucial three with 5:12 on the clock to put the guests ahead 66-57.
Sam Houston never got closer than within six the rest of the way. Colin Porter helped seal the win at the foul line, going 6-of-6 over the final 1:09.
Key Stats & Notes
- This is Liberty's first win in a CUSA road opener. The Flames were 1-7 in league road games in their first year in the conference a season ago.
- Colin Porter's 17 points matched a season high, which he also accomplished against Kansas State in the Paradise Jam semifinals on Nov. 24. The junior guard is averaging 16.5 points and 5.0 assists per game over his last two games.
- Owen Aquino's double-double was his fourth of the season and second in the last three games. The junior forward has recorded 10 or more rebounds in three straight games, the first Flame to do that since Scottie James had three straight double-digit rebounding from March 2-12, 2018. Aquino is averaging 10.3 ppg and 11.7 rpg over his last three contests.
- Aquino was a game-best +18 on the night. Porter (+12) and Metheny (+10) also sported double-digit +/- ratios for Liberty.
- The Liberty defense held Sam Houston (79.9 ppg coming in) nearly 12 points below its season scoring average.
- Liberty regains the advantage in the all-time series with Sam Houston, 3-2. The Flames are 2-1 against the Bearkats over the last two seasons in Conference USA.
- Flames freshman Will Gibson made his collegiate debut tonight. The Louisville, Ky. native grabbed one rebound in 2:33 of action.
Liberty will play another CUSA road contest on Saturday evening, facing preseason conference favorite Louisiana Tech (12-4, 1-2 CUSA). Tip time is 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Central) from the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, La. The game will be on ESPNU.
The Flames and Bulldogs split the season series last year. Liberty topped Louisiana Tech 65-62 at Liberty Arena. The Bulldogs edged the Flames 80-76 in overtime in the meeting in Ruston, La.
Colin Porter from half court at the horn!??????#SCTop10
— Liberty Men's Basketball (@LibertyMBB) January 10, 2025
?? @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/5omc68m1Z2
Team Stats
Lib
SHSU
FG%
.456
.421
3FG%
.407
.400
FT%
.591
.800
RB
35
35
TO
10
13
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
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