Wednesday, November 26
Kissimmee, Fla.
2:30 PM ET
Liberty University
5-2,0-0CUSA
64
vs
74
Bradley
4-4,0-0MVC
1
2
F
Liberty
33
31
64
Bradley
43
31
74
Flames Fall to Braves in 3rd Place Game
11/26/2025 6:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Liberty Flames fell 74-64 to the Bradley Braves in the third place game of the 2025 ESPN Events Invitational on Wednesday afternoon at State Farm Field House.
The Flames drop to 5-2 after their second loss in as many days. Liberty finished 1-2 at the event and takes fourth place. The Braves even their record up at 4-4 with their second straight win and end with a 2-1 mark this week for third place.
Bradley built up a 21-point first half lead and prevailed. Liberty was paced by 21 points from Brett Decker Jr., tied for a game high with Bradley's Demarion Burch (21 points). The Braves held the Flames to a season-low 64 points, 23 below their season average.
UC San Diego claimed the 2025 ESPN Events Invitational title earlier in the afternoon, topping Towson 87-73.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Brett Decker Jr. 21 points, 8-12 FG, 5-6 3FG; Kaden Metheny 10 points; Colin Porter 8 points, 3 steals; JJ Harper 7 points; Zach Cleveland 6 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals
Bradley Individuals: Demarion Burch 21 points, 8-10 FG, 8 rebounds, 2 steals; Alex Huibregtse 12 points, 4-5 3FG, 4 rebounds; Jaquon Johnson 12 points, 6-6 FT, 5 assists, 3 steals
Key Team Stats: Liberty finished the day shooting 45.8 percent (22-of-48) from the field and 39.1 percent (9-of-23) from three, aided by Brett Decker Jr's 5-of-6 performance from deep. The Braves shot 50.9 percent (27-of-53) for the game, the second straight game Liberty has allowed a foe to shoot over 50 percent. The Braves were an efficient 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from long range and knocked down 12-of-14 free throws (85.7 percent). Conversely, the Flames were only 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from the foul line. Bradley held a sizeable advantage in rebounding, 36-20, and held edges in assists (16-14), points in the paint (36-26), second chance points (15-4) and bench points (18-12). Liberty led in fast break points by an 11-6 count and in points off turnovers, 15-10. The Flames turned the ball over a season-high 12 times but also forced 15 Braves miscues. Liberty led for only 14 seconds today. Bradley led for 39:19.
Turning Point
A 16-2 Braves run took a 25-18 lead and turned it into a 21-point advantage, 41-20, with 3:28 to play in the opening half. Liberty closed within 10 at the break with a 13-2 run. Josh Smith's emphatic dunk with two seconds left on a beautiful feed from Colin Porter sent the Flames into the locker room trailing 43-33.
Liberty scored the first five points of the second half to get within five (43-38), but Bradley answered with an 8-2 run of its own, capped off by a Corey Thomas basket, to push the lead back to 51-40 at the 14:57 mark. The Flames got within single digits a couple of times, including at 61-52 with 5:18 left following a Brett Decker Jr. corner three-pointer, but the Braves closed the game a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line over the final 4:43 to secure the win.
Key Stats & Notes
The Flames will be back in action on Dec. 6 at Liberty Arena against the Coppin State Eagles (2-7). Game time is 2 p.m.
The Flames drop to 5-2 after their second loss in as many days. Liberty finished 1-2 at the event and takes fourth place. The Braves even their record up at 4-4 with their second straight win and end with a 2-1 mark this week for third place.
Bradley built up a 21-point first half lead and prevailed. Liberty was paced by 21 points from Brett Decker Jr., tied for a game high with Bradley's Demarion Burch (21 points). The Braves held the Flames to a season-low 64 points, 23 below their season average.
UC San Diego claimed the 2025 ESPN Events Invitational title earlier in the afternoon, topping Towson 87-73.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Brett Decker Jr. 21 points, 8-12 FG, 5-6 3FG; Kaden Metheny 10 points; Colin Porter 8 points, 3 steals; JJ Harper 7 points; Zach Cleveland 6 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals
Bradley Individuals: Demarion Burch 21 points, 8-10 FG, 8 rebounds, 2 steals; Alex Huibregtse 12 points, 4-5 3FG, 4 rebounds; Jaquon Johnson 12 points, 6-6 FT, 5 assists, 3 steals
Key Team Stats: Liberty finished the day shooting 45.8 percent (22-of-48) from the field and 39.1 percent (9-of-23) from three, aided by Brett Decker Jr's 5-of-6 performance from deep. The Braves shot 50.9 percent (27-of-53) for the game, the second straight game Liberty has allowed a foe to shoot over 50 percent. The Braves were an efficient 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from long range and knocked down 12-of-14 free throws (85.7 percent). Conversely, the Flames were only 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from the foul line. Bradley held a sizeable advantage in rebounding, 36-20, and held edges in assists (16-14), points in the paint (36-26), second chance points (15-4) and bench points (18-12). Liberty led in fast break points by an 11-6 count and in points off turnovers, 15-10. The Flames turned the ball over a season-high 12 times but also forced 15 Braves miscues. Liberty led for only 14 seconds today. Bradley led for 39:19.
Turning Point
A 16-2 Braves run took a 25-18 lead and turned it into a 21-point advantage, 41-20, with 3:28 to play in the opening half. Liberty closed within 10 at the break with a 13-2 run. Josh Smith's emphatic dunk with two seconds left on a beautiful feed from Colin Porter sent the Flames into the locker room trailing 43-33.
Liberty scored the first five points of the second half to get within five (43-38), but Bradley answered with an 8-2 run of its own, capped off by a Corey Thomas basket, to push the lead back to 51-40 at the 14:57 mark. The Flames got within single digits a couple of times, including at 61-52 with 5:18 left following a Brett Decker Jr. corner three-pointer, but the Braves closed the game a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line over the final 4:43 to secure the win.
Key Stats & Notes
- Brett Decker Jr's 21-point effort was his fourth 20-point game this year. Decker Jr. has scored in double figures in all seven games this year, the only Flame to do so.
- Decker Jr. averaged 19.0 ppg and was 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) from three-point territory in three games this week. Kaden Metheny was second on the squad in scoring at 13.3 ppg, and Zach Cleveland averaged 10.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 7.3 apg.
- Cleveland grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds, his fifth game this year with 10 or more boards.
- The Liberty defense limited Bradley to 31 second half points on 37.5 percent (9-of-24) shooting.
- The Flames fall to 1-1 all-time against Bradley. Liberty won the first meeting between the two squads, a 55-44 result at the 2022 Cancun Challenge.
- Liberty connected on nine three-pointers, its second straight game with fewer than double digits.
- The Flames averaged 70.7 ppg and surrendered 73.0 ppg in the three games this week.
- This is Liberty's first time losing back-to-back games since dropping two straight on Jan. 11 (79-74 loss at Louisiana Tech) and Jan. 16 (72-70 loss vs. UTEP) earlier this year.
The Flames will be back in action on Dec. 6 at Liberty Arena against the Coppin State Eagles (2-7). Game time is 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Lib
BRAD
FG%
.458
.509
3FG%
.391
.444
FT%
.524
.857
RB
20
36
TO
12
15
STL
9
7
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballCoach McKay Talks About The 2026-27 Signing Class
Thursday, November 20
Coach McKay Talks About The Win Over Carolina
Tuesday, November 18
Josh Smith & JC Shirer Jr. Talk About The Win Over Carolina
Tuesday, November 18
Coach McKay Talks About The Win Over FAU
Monday, November 10