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Thursday, February 27
Lynchburg, Va.
7:00 PM ET
Liberty University
23-5,11-4CUSA
59
vs
55
Jacksonville State
19-10,11-5CUSA
1
2
F
Jacksonville St.
16
39
55
Liberty
31
28
59
Liberty Fends Off Jax State For 59-55 Win
2/27/2025 10:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – In a battle for first place in the Conference USA standings, Liberty fended off Jacksonville State for a 59-55 win at Liberty Arena for its sixth straight victory.
With the win, the Flames take over first place in the league standings with an 11-4 CUSA mark. Liberty improves to 23-5 overall, 12-2 at home and 6-2 in league home games. The Gamecocks fall to 11-5 in the league, a half game back of Liberty. The Flames also prevented the Gamecocks (19-10) from winning their 20th game of the season and snapped a three-game losing streak to Jax State in the process.
Liberty led by as many as 21 in the second half before Jax State clawed back to within three in the closing seconds. A few key late baskets and a late free throw from Jayvon Maughmer helped preserve the win.
Maughmer (12 points) and the Liberty defense limited the nation's second-leading scorer, Jaron Pierre Jr. (22.1 ppg coming in), to only 13 points on 4-of-22 shooting. Kaden Metheny paced the Flames with 13 points, while Zach Cleveland finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the victory.
Liberty and Jax State split the regular season series, with both teams winning on their home floors.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Kaden Metheny 13 points, 4 rebounds; Jayvon Maughmer 12 points, 5-8 FG; Zach Cleveland 10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block; Colin Porter 9 points, 5 assists, 2 steals; Owen Aquino 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks
Jacksonville State Individuals: Jao Ituka 14 points, 4-7 FG; Jaron Pierre Jr. 13 points, 4-22 FG, 3-13 3FG, 7 rebounds; Mason Nicholson 8 points, 10 rebounds; Marcellus Brigham Jr. 8 points, 4-5 FG, 4 rebounds
Key Team Stats: Liberty finished the night shooting 42.9 percent (21-of-49) from the field, 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from three-point territory and 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the foul line. The Flames' defense held Jax State to 36.8 percent shooting (21-of-57) from the field, including a 26.9 percent mark (7-of-26) in the opening half. The Gamecocks were only 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from three-point territory and converted 7-of-9 free throws (77.8 percent). The Flames held narrow edges in points off turnovers (11-9), fewer turnovers (11-10) points in the paint (28-26) and fast break points (5-2). Jacksonville State had the edge in rebounding (35-33), second chance points (10-8) and bench points (17-7).
Turning Point
The Liberty defense turned in a dominant performance in the first half. After falling behind 5-0 in the first 1:10 of the game, the Flames held the Gamecocks to 11 points for the final 18:50 of the opening half and took a 31-16 lead into the locker room. Liberty also forced nine Jax State turnovers in the first half, and the 16 points were the Gamecocks' season low for a half.
Liberty stretched the lead to 21, 39-18, following a Kaden Metheny triple at the 16:08 mark. Jax State used an 8-0 run to within eight, 39-27. The Gamecocks slowly chipped away at the Liberty lead at got within six, 56-50, with 2:23 remaining in the game following a pair of free throws from Jaron Pierre Jr. Two possessions later, the Flames got a big tip-in from Owen Aquino following a missed three from Metheny to push the lead back up to eight, 58-50, with 1:14 to go.
Jax State responded by scoring the next five points, and Mason Nicholson's offensive board and bucket at the 24-second mark trimmed the Liberty lead to three. The Flames' Jayvon Maughmer knocked down the first free throw with 10 seconds left for a 59-55 Liberty lead. After missing the second free throw, Maughmer and the Liberty defense forced a tough three-pointer from Pierre Jr. as time expired, a shot that rimmed out.
Key Stats & Notes
Up Next
Liberty will play its final home regular season game on Sunday against Kennesaw State (16-13, 8-8 CUSA) Tip time between the Flames and Owls is set for 1 p.m. and can be seen on CBS Sports Network. Sunday is Senior Day for the Flames. Prior to tipoff, Liberty will honor its senior class with a special ceremony.
Liberty bested Kennesaw State 76-68 on the road in the first matchup between the two squads, Jan. 30.
With the win, the Flames take over first place in the league standings with an 11-4 CUSA mark. Liberty improves to 23-5 overall, 12-2 at home and 6-2 in league home games. The Gamecocks fall to 11-5 in the league, a half game back of Liberty. The Flames also prevented the Gamecocks (19-10) from winning their 20th game of the season and snapped a three-game losing streak to Jax State in the process.
Liberty led by as many as 21 in the second half before Jax State clawed back to within three in the closing seconds. A few key late baskets and a late free throw from Jayvon Maughmer helped preserve the win.
Maughmer (12 points) and the Liberty defense limited the nation's second-leading scorer, Jaron Pierre Jr. (22.1 ppg coming in), to only 13 points on 4-of-22 shooting. Kaden Metheny paced the Flames with 13 points, while Zach Cleveland finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the victory.
Liberty and Jax State split the regular season series, with both teams winning on their home floors.
Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Kaden Metheny 13 points, 4 rebounds; Jayvon Maughmer 12 points, 5-8 FG; Zach Cleveland 10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block; Colin Porter 9 points, 5 assists, 2 steals; Owen Aquino 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks
Jacksonville State Individuals: Jao Ituka 14 points, 4-7 FG; Jaron Pierre Jr. 13 points, 4-22 FG, 3-13 3FG, 7 rebounds; Mason Nicholson 8 points, 10 rebounds; Marcellus Brigham Jr. 8 points, 4-5 FG, 4 rebounds
Key Team Stats: Liberty finished the night shooting 42.9 percent (21-of-49) from the field, 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from three-point territory and 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the foul line. The Flames' defense held Jax State to 36.8 percent shooting (21-of-57) from the field, including a 26.9 percent mark (7-of-26) in the opening half. The Gamecocks were only 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from three-point territory and converted 7-of-9 free throws (77.8 percent). The Flames held narrow edges in points off turnovers (11-9), fewer turnovers (11-10) points in the paint (28-26) and fast break points (5-2). Jacksonville State had the edge in rebounding (35-33), second chance points (10-8) and bench points (17-7).
Turning Point
The Liberty defense turned in a dominant performance in the first half. After falling behind 5-0 in the first 1:10 of the game, the Flames held the Gamecocks to 11 points for the final 18:50 of the opening half and took a 31-16 lead into the locker room. Liberty also forced nine Jax State turnovers in the first half, and the 16 points were the Gamecocks' season low for a half.
Liberty stretched the lead to 21, 39-18, following a Kaden Metheny triple at the 16:08 mark. Jax State used an 8-0 run to within eight, 39-27. The Gamecocks slowly chipped away at the Liberty lead at got within six, 56-50, with 2:23 remaining in the game following a pair of free throws from Jaron Pierre Jr. Two possessions later, the Flames got a big tip-in from Owen Aquino following a missed three from Metheny to push the lead back up to eight, 58-50, with 1:14 to go.
Jax State responded by scoring the next five points, and Mason Nicholson's offensive board and bucket at the 24-second mark trimmed the Liberty lead to three. The Flames' Jayvon Maughmer knocked down the first free throw with 10 seconds left for a 59-55 Liberty lead. After missing the second free throw, Maughmer and the Liberty defense forced a tough three-pointer from Pierre Jr. as time expired, a shot that rimmed out.
Key Stats & Notes
- The Flames take over first place in the Conference USA standings for the first time ever.
- In two meetings with Jax State, Liberty has held Jaron Pierre Jr. to 22 total points (11.0 ppg). Pierre is a combined 7-of-35 (20 percent) from the field in those two contests.
- The Flames have held eight opponents under 60 points on the year. Jax State's 55 points are its second lowest this season. The Gamecocks' 36.8 percent mark from the field was their third worst of the year.
- Zach Cleveland was a team-best +15 for the Flames in his 31:16 of action. With four assists tonight, Cleveland moved into solo 20th place in program history for career assists with 302.
- Liberty is one of 23 teams in the country with 23 or more victories on the season.
- Kaden Metheny (13 points) has scored in double figures in four of his last five contests.
- The Flames snap a three-game losing streak to the Gamecocks in a game that was the lowest-scoring battle between the two teams in seven all-time meetings. Liberty improves to 3-4 all-time versus Jax State, including a 2-2 home mark.
Up Next
Liberty will play its final home regular season game on Sunday against Kennesaw State (16-13, 8-8 CUSA) Tip time between the Flames and Owls is set for 1 p.m. and can be seen on CBS Sports Network. Sunday is Senior Day for the Flames. Prior to tipoff, Liberty will honor its senior class with a special ceremony.
Liberty bested Kennesaw State 76-68 on the road in the first matchup between the two squads, Jan. 30.
Team Stats
JSU
Lib
FG%
.368
.429
3FG%
.261
.292
FT%
.778
.588
RB
35
33
TO
11
10
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
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