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Wednesday, February 4
Newark, Del.
7:00 PM ET
Liberty University
19-3,11-0CUSA
75
at
69
Delaware
6-16,2-9CUSA
1
2
F
Liberty
29
46
75
Delaware
30
39
69
The Flames celebrated their 13th consecutive victory on Wednesday at Delaware.
Liberty Prevails 75-69 at Delaware for 13th Straight Win
2/4/2026 10:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NEWARK, Del. -Â Liberty prevailed 75-69 in a road Conference USA game at Delaware to earn its 13th straight win overall and remain perfect in league play.
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The Flames bolster their overall mark to 19-3 and 11-0 in CUSA action after Wednesday night's triumph over the Blue Hens at the Bob Carpenter Center in what was the second meeting between the squads in an 11-day span. Liberty is a perfect 6-0 in CUSA road games.
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Delaware drops to 6-16 overall and 2-9 in CUSA competition. The Blue Hens fall to 1-5 in league home games.
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Liberty's 13-game winning streak is the second longest in school history, behind only the Flames' 14-game streak to open the 2019-20 campaign.
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Colin Porter paced the Flames, matching a season high with 23 points. The senior guard was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to help secure the victory and had 17 points in the second half.
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Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Colin Porter 23 points, 4-7 3FG, 9-9 FT, 5 rebounds; Josh Smith 14 points, 5-6 FG, 4-4 FT, 5 rebounds; JJ Harper 13 points, 5-5 FT; Kaden Metheny 12 points, 4-10 3FG, 7 rebounds, 3 assists; Brett Decker Jr. 9 points, 3-7 3FG; Zach Cleveland 4 points, 9 assists
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Delaware Individuals: Justyn Fernandez 21 points, 8-12 FG, 5 rebounds, 4 assists; Macon Emory 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals; Christian Bliss 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists; Tyler Houser 14 points, 6-12 FG, 4 rebounds
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Key Team Stats: Both teams shot over 50 percent tonight, with the Flames finishing the night at 51.1 percent (23-of-45), compared to 51 percent (26-of-51) for the Blue Hens. Liberty has shot over 50 percent 14 times this year, winning in each instance. The Flames were an impressive 90 percent (18-of-20) from the foul line, including 16-of-18 (88.9 percent) in the second half. The Blue Hens were 88.9 percent (8-of-9) from the line. Liberty connected on 11-of-27 threes (40.7 percent) and knocked down 60 percent (6-of-10) in the second half. Delaware finished the night at 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from beyond the arc. The Flames held a 25-23 edge in rebounding. Liberty assisted on 21 of its 23 made field goals. Delaware had 13 assists on its 26 makes from the field. The Blue Hens held edges in points off turnovers (15-12), points in the paint (28-24) and fast break points (10-7). Liberty had a 14-0 edge in bench points, with Josh Smith providing all the points in 18:26 of action.
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Turning Point
Liberty trailed 53-48 at the 9:36 mark before a 13-0 run over a span of 3:36 put the Flames ahead 61-53. During that spurt, Kaden Metheny tied the game with a three, followed by a Colin Porter three-point play at the 7:10 mark for a 56-53 lead. Brett Decker Jr. canned a three on the Flames' next trip down the court, and Porter knocked down a pair of free throws to push the lead to eight, 61-53, with 6:00 left.
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Liberty never relinquished the lead, but Delaware fought back to within two, 69-67, with 33 seconds left in the game following a three-point play from Christian Bliss. Porter was clutch in crunch time, going 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to put the final touches on the win.
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Key Stats & Notes
Liberty will be back home for a nationally-televised CUSA game (CBS Sports Network) against the Missouri State Bears (13-9, 7-4 CUSA), Saturday afternoon. Tip time is 2 p.m. from Liberty Arena. This is the Bears' first year in Conference USA. The Flames and Bears met back on Nov. 26, 2013, a 54-52 Missouri State home triumph, in the only previous game between the two programs.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Flames bolster their overall mark to 19-3 and 11-0 in CUSA action after Wednesday night's triumph over the Blue Hens at the Bob Carpenter Center in what was the second meeting between the squads in an 11-day span. Liberty is a perfect 6-0 in CUSA road games.
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Delaware drops to 6-16 overall and 2-9 in CUSA competition. The Blue Hens fall to 1-5 in league home games.
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Liberty's 13-game winning streak is the second longest in school history, behind only the Flames' 14-game streak to open the 2019-20 campaign.
    Â
Colin Porter paced the Flames, matching a season high with 23 points. The senior guard was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to help secure the victory and had 17 points in the second half.
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Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Colin Porter 23 points, 4-7 3FG, 9-9 FT, 5 rebounds; Josh Smith 14 points, 5-6 FG, 4-4 FT, 5 rebounds; JJ Harper 13 points, 5-5 FT; Kaden Metheny 12 points, 4-10 3FG, 7 rebounds, 3 assists; Brett Decker Jr. 9 points, 3-7 3FG; Zach Cleveland 4 points, 9 assists
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Delaware Individuals: Justyn Fernandez 21 points, 8-12 FG, 5 rebounds, 4 assists; Macon Emory 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals; Christian Bliss 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists; Tyler Houser 14 points, 6-12 FG, 4 rebounds
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Key Team Stats: Both teams shot over 50 percent tonight, with the Flames finishing the night at 51.1 percent (23-of-45), compared to 51 percent (26-of-51) for the Blue Hens. Liberty has shot over 50 percent 14 times this year, winning in each instance. The Flames were an impressive 90 percent (18-of-20) from the foul line, including 16-of-18 (88.9 percent) in the second half. The Blue Hens were 88.9 percent (8-of-9) from the line. Liberty connected on 11-of-27 threes (40.7 percent) and knocked down 60 percent (6-of-10) in the second half. Delaware finished the night at 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from beyond the arc. The Flames held a 25-23 edge in rebounding. Liberty assisted on 21 of its 23 made field goals. Delaware had 13 assists on its 26 makes from the field. The Blue Hens held edges in points off turnovers (15-12), points in the paint (28-24) and fast break points (10-7). Liberty had a 14-0 edge in bench points, with Josh Smith providing all the points in 18:26 of action.
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Turning Point
Liberty trailed 53-48 at the 9:36 mark before a 13-0 run over a span of 3:36 put the Flames ahead 61-53. During that spurt, Kaden Metheny tied the game with a three, followed by a Colin Porter three-point play at the 7:10 mark for a 56-53 lead. Brett Decker Jr. canned a three on the Flames' next trip down the court, and Porter knocked down a pair of free throws to push the lead to eight, 61-53, with 6:00 left.
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Liberty never relinquished the lead, but Delaware fought back to within two, 69-67, with 33 seconds left in the game following a three-point play from Christian Bliss. Porter was clutch in crunch time, going 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to put the final touches on the win.
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Key Stats & Notes
- Liberty has won 16 straight contests (including postseason play) against CUSA teams and is 22-1 in its last 23 games against league foes dating back to last year.
- Colin Porter (23 points) notched his second 20-point game of the season and third of his career.
- The Flames are 11-0 in conference play for the first time in school history.
- JJ Harper (13 points) has scored in double figures in seven of his last eight games.
- Zach Cleveland (nine assists) notched his 15th game this season with seven or more assists.
- Liberty trailed 30-29 at the break, only the fourth time this year trailing at intermission and the first time since being down to Dayton on Dec. 20 in an eventual 64-61 triumph. The Flames improve to 2-2 this year when down at the break.
- The Flames are 13-2 in CUSA road games since the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
- Liberty is 7-1 overall on the road this year and 6-0 in CUSA games away from home.
- The Flames are 44-of-51 (86.3 percent) from the free throw over the final two minutes of regulation and overtime in 11 league games.
- Liberty (11-0 CUSA) is in first place in CUSA by three-and-a-half games. Sam Houston is in second place at 8-4.Â
Liberty will be back home for a nationally-televised CUSA game (CBS Sports Network) against the Missouri State Bears (13-9, 7-4 CUSA), Saturday afternoon. Tip time is 2 p.m. from Liberty Arena. This is the Bears' first year in Conference USA. The Flames and Bears met back on Nov. 26, 2013, a 54-52 Missouri State home triumph, in the only previous game between the two programs.
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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.
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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.
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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
Lib
UD
FG%
.511
.510
3FG%
.407
.375
FT%
.900
.889
RB
25
23
TO
9
10
STL
3
5
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
9
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballMy Moment: Zach Cleveland
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