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Saturday, February 21
Lynchburg, Va.
4:00 PM ET
Liberty University
23-4,15-1CUSA
73
vs
94
Western Kentucky
16-11,9-7CUSA
1
2
F
Western Ky.
48
46
94
Liberty
37
36
73
WKU Snaps Liberty’s 17-Game Winning Streak, Hands Flames 1st CUSA Loss
2/21/2026 7:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Western Kentucky snapped Liberty's 17-game winning streak with a 94-73 triumph on Saturday at Liberty Arena, handing the Flames their first Conference USA loss of the season as well.
The Flames drop to 23-4 on the season and 15-1 in league play following their first loss in 73 days (last: Dec. 10). Liberty's 17-game winning streak was the second longest in the country entering the day. The Hilltoppers pick up their fourth straight win and improve to 16-11 overall and 9-7 in CUSA. Liberty and WKU split the regular season series, with each team winning on the road. One month ago today (Jan. 21), the Flames edged the Hilltoppers 76-69 in Bowling Green, Ky.
Liberty (15-1 CUSA) has already clinched a share of the CUSA regular season title. The first place Flames are four games ahead of second place Sam Houston (11-5) with four games to play and did not earn the outright CUSA regular season crown today because the Bearkats topped Jacksonville State 82-78.
The Flames suffer their first home loss of the year, falling to 13-1 at Liberty Arena. It was Liberty's first loss in its home building since March 2, 2025 (356 days ago) and only its 11th loss all-time in the facility (82-11 overall).
Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Colin Porter 20 points, 7-14 FG, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block; JJ Harper 16 points, 6-7 FG, 2 blocks; Zach Cleveland 11 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals; Josh Smith 11 points, 5-6 FT, 3 rebounds
Western Kentucky Individuals: Grant Newell 21 points, 6-6 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists; Teagan Moore 21 points, 6-11 FG, 6-7 FT, 4 rebounds; LJ Hackman 17 points, 5-9 FG, 6-6 FT, 2 steals; Ryan Myers 12 points, 3 rebounds; Terrion Murdox 10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals; Armelo Boones 7 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Key Team Stats: Liberty outshot Western Kentucky 54.5-52.5 percent, the first time this year the Flames lost a game in which they outshot their opponent (22-1 record now when outshooting opponent). WKU turned in a strong performance at the free throw line, making all but one its 23 attempts (22-of-23, 95.7 percent). Liberty struggled on the foul line today, knocking down just 58.6 percent (17-of-29) of its attempts. The Hilltoppers held a decisive 34-20 rebounding edge, with 10 offensive rebounds leading to 19 second chance points. WKU grabbed seven of those 10 offensive boards in the first half, leading to 13 second chance points in the opening 20 minutes. Liberty committed 12 turnovers, which WKU converted into 21 points. The Flames' 12 miscues are tied for their second most in a league game this year, and Liberty turned the ball over 27 times in two games this weekend. Conversely, WKU committed nine turnovers, only leading to six Flames points. The Hilltoppers also led in points in the paint (40-38), fast break points (14-0) and bench points (21-15). Liberty notched 12 assists, compared to 14 for WKU.
Turning Point
Liberty used an 8-0 run to take a 22-14 lead with 10:03 to go in the opening half. WKU answered back with an 8-0 run of its own and scored 34 points over the final 9:35 of the stanza to go into the break with a 48-37 lead. The Hilltoppers held a 17-9 edge on the glass in the first half, aided by seven offensive rebounds. WKU was 17-of-32 (53.1 percent) from the field and 90.9 percent (10-of-11) from the foul line in the opening half, attempting 11 more shots than Liberty. The Flames shot 66.7 percent (14-of-21) in the first half but committee eight turnovers.
The Flames hit three of their first four three-pointers coming out the locker room, two by Colin Porter and one by JJ Harper, to get within seven, 53-46, with 17:42 left. WKU once again answered the bell, scoring seven of the next 11 points to push the advantage back up to double digits, 60-48, at the 14:34 mark. Liberty got within single digits more one time at the 13:28 mark (62-53), but WKU pushed the lead back up to 17 (72-55) with a 10-2 run. The visitors led by 15 or more the rest of the way.
Key Stats & Notes
Up Next
Liberty will be back in action on Thursday night at Kennesaw State (16-11, 8-8 CUSA). Game time is 7 p.m. from the KSU Convocation Center. The game will air live on ESPN+.
The Flames claimed the first meeting with the Owls by an 81-73 score, Jan. 2 at Liberty Arena.
CUSA Championship Ticket Information
Ticket packages for the 2026 CUSA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are now on sale. Both the Flames and Lady Flames will look to defend their conference tournament titles at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Ala., March 10-14.
Fans can purchase an all-session booklet through the Liberty Ticket Office for $175, a savings of $25. This includes tickets to all nine men's games and all nine women's games throughout the tournament. To purchase tickets and find more information, please visit http://www.libertyflames.com/CUSABasketball.
Students will be able to purchase tickets for the tournaments on a session-to-session basis. These may be purchased at Propst Arena with a valid student ID (of a CUSA school) for half the price of the current day's session.
The Flames drop to 23-4 on the season and 15-1 in league play following their first loss in 73 days (last: Dec. 10). Liberty's 17-game winning streak was the second longest in the country entering the day. The Hilltoppers pick up their fourth straight win and improve to 16-11 overall and 9-7 in CUSA. Liberty and WKU split the regular season series, with each team winning on the road. One month ago today (Jan. 21), the Flames edged the Hilltoppers 76-69 in Bowling Green, Ky.
Liberty (15-1 CUSA) has already clinched a share of the CUSA regular season title. The first place Flames are four games ahead of second place Sam Houston (11-5) with four games to play and did not earn the outright CUSA regular season crown today because the Bearkats topped Jacksonville State 82-78.
The Flames suffer their first home loss of the year, falling to 13-1 at Liberty Arena. It was Liberty's first loss in its home building since March 2, 2025 (356 days ago) and only its 11th loss all-time in the facility (82-11 overall).
Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Colin Porter 20 points, 7-14 FG, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block; JJ Harper 16 points, 6-7 FG, 2 blocks; Zach Cleveland 11 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals; Josh Smith 11 points, 5-6 FT, 3 rebounds
Western Kentucky Individuals: Grant Newell 21 points, 6-6 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists; Teagan Moore 21 points, 6-11 FG, 6-7 FT, 4 rebounds; LJ Hackman 17 points, 5-9 FG, 6-6 FT, 2 steals; Ryan Myers 12 points, 3 rebounds; Terrion Murdox 10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals; Armelo Boones 7 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Key Team Stats: Liberty outshot Western Kentucky 54.5-52.5 percent, the first time this year the Flames lost a game in which they outshot their opponent (22-1 record now when outshooting opponent). WKU turned in a strong performance at the free throw line, making all but one its 23 attempts (22-of-23, 95.7 percent). Liberty struggled on the foul line today, knocking down just 58.6 percent (17-of-29) of its attempts. The Hilltoppers held a decisive 34-20 rebounding edge, with 10 offensive rebounds leading to 19 second chance points. WKU grabbed seven of those 10 offensive boards in the first half, leading to 13 second chance points in the opening 20 minutes. Liberty committed 12 turnovers, which WKU converted into 21 points. The Flames' 12 miscues are tied for their second most in a league game this year, and Liberty turned the ball over 27 times in two games this weekend. Conversely, WKU committed nine turnovers, only leading to six Flames points. The Hilltoppers also led in points in the paint (40-38), fast break points (14-0) and bench points (21-15). Liberty notched 12 assists, compared to 14 for WKU.
Turning Point
Liberty used an 8-0 run to take a 22-14 lead with 10:03 to go in the opening half. WKU answered back with an 8-0 run of its own and scored 34 points over the final 9:35 of the stanza to go into the break with a 48-37 lead. The Hilltoppers held a 17-9 edge on the glass in the first half, aided by seven offensive rebounds. WKU was 17-of-32 (53.1 percent) from the field and 90.9 percent (10-of-11) from the foul line in the opening half, attempting 11 more shots than Liberty. The Flames shot 66.7 percent (14-of-21) in the first half but committee eight turnovers.
The Flames hit three of their first four three-pointers coming out the locker room, two by Colin Porter and one by JJ Harper, to get within seven, 53-46, with 17:42 left. WKU once again answered the bell, scoring seven of the next 11 points to push the advantage back up to double digits, 60-48, at the 14:34 mark. Liberty got within single digits more one time at the 13:28 mark (62-53), but WKU pushed the lead back up to 17 (72-55) with a 10-2 run. The visitors led by 15 or more the rest of the way.
Key Stats & Notes
- Liberty sees a 20-game winning streak against CUSA foes (including postseason) dating back to last year come to an end. The Flames' 20 game conference winning streak was the longest in the nation coming into the day.
- Senior guard Colin Porter led the Flames with 20 points, his third 20-point game of the year. The Ashland, Ky. native was 7-of-14 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 at the foul line.
- Redshirt senior guard JJ Harper scored 16 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting. Over his last four games, he has scored 69 points (17.3 ppg).
- Liberty finished the game only 6-of-21 (28.6 percent) from three-point land. The Flames did not make a triple in the first half, the first time since last year against New Mexico State (second half at home, Jan. 18, 2025) that they did not convert on a three in a half. Western Kentucky was 10-of-21 (47.6 percent) from deep.
- Zach Cleveland (five assists) notched his 22nd game of the year with five or more assists. The senior forward added 11 points, four rebounds and two steals.
- WKU becomes the third opposing team to win two times at Liberty Arena. The other two teams are UTEP and Jacksonville State.
- The all-time series between Liberty and WKU is now even 3-3. Liberty is 2-1 all-time on the road at WKU, and WKU holds a 2-1 record at Liberty Arena.
- The 21-point setback is Liberty's largest margin of defeat at home since an 84-54 setback to George Mason on Dec. 11, 2010. It is also the biggest margin of defeat at home in head coach Ritchie McKay's second tenure with the Flames (2015-16 season to present).
Up Next
Liberty will be back in action on Thursday night at Kennesaw State (16-11, 8-8 CUSA). Game time is 7 p.m. from the KSU Convocation Center. The game will air live on ESPN+.
The Flames claimed the first meeting with the Owls by an 81-73 score, Jan. 2 at Liberty Arena.
CUSA Championship Ticket Information
Ticket packages for the 2026 CUSA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are now on sale. Both the Flames and Lady Flames will look to defend their conference tournament titles at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Ala., March 10-14.
Fans can purchase an all-session booklet through the Liberty Ticket Office for $175, a savings of $25. This includes tickets to all nine men's games and all nine women's games throughout the tournament. To purchase tickets and find more information, please visit http://www.libertyflames.com/CUSABasketball.
Students will be able to purchase tickets for the tournaments on a session-to-session basis. These may be purchased at Propst Arena with a valid student ID (of a CUSA school) for half the price of the current day's session.
Team Stats
WestKy
Lib
FG%
.525
.556
3FG%
.476
.286
FT%
.957
.586
RB
34
20
TO
9
12
STL
10
6
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
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