MBB Game Day: Missouri State

Game Day Coverage

Liberty vs. Missouri State (Liberty Arena)
Tipoff: Saturday at 2:05 p.m. ET
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: LFSN Radio
Live Stats

Liberty Storylines

CUSA-leading Liberty (18-3, 10-0 CUSA) welcomes Missouri State (13-9, 7-4 CUSA) for a nationally-televised game (CBSN). Liberty's 11-0 league start is the best start to a conference season in program history.
The Flames are one of six teams in the nation currently unbeaten in conference play.
Liberty's 13-game winning streak is the fifth longest streak in the country at present. The streak is the second best in school history. The longest streak in school history is 14 games, as the Flames went 14-0 to start the 2019-20 season.
Liberty is a perfect 11-0 at home this year while shooting 55.4 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from deep with 127 threes.
A win over Missouri State would give the Flames their ninth 20-win season in the last 10 years.
Liberty has 196 wins since the start of the 2018-19 season, fifth most in the country in that span.
The Flames won 75-69 on the road at Delaware on Wednesday night to extend their winning streak to 13 games. Colin Porter matched a season high with 23 points, and the Flames were 18-of-20 from the foul line. The Bears topped Jax State 74-67 in their last game.
Liberty is No. 2 in the nation in field goal percentage (52.5), No. 2 in effective field goal percentage (.623), No. 3 in fewest turnovers per game (8.5), No. 3 in three-point percentage (41.0), No. 3 in assist/turnover ratio (2.05) and No. 6 in fewest fouls per game (13.8) (leads CUSA in all of the above).
This will be the second all-time meeting between Liberty and Missouri State and first since the 2013-14 season. The Flames and Bears squared off on Nov. 26, 2013, a 54-52 Missouri State win on its home floor. Liberty finished the contest at 42.9 percent shooting from the field (21-of-49), compared to 33.9 percent (19-of-56) for the Bears. Although Missouri State entered the contest 11th in the country in three-point shooting percentage (45.6 percent), the Liberty defense held the Bears to 22.7 percent from long range (5-of-22).
-The Flames are 11-0 in CUSA play for the first time.
The Flames are currently No. 71 in the NCAA NET Rankings and No. 86 in KenPom. The Bears are No. 197 in the NET and No. 201 in the KenPom.
Liberty has won 16 straight contests (including postseason play) against Conference USA opponents and is 22-1 in its last 23 games against conference foes dating back to last year.
Brett Decker Jr. ranks No. 2 nationally in three-point percentage (50.3), No. 7 in three-pointers per game (3.55) and No. 10 in total triples (78).
Zach Cleveland ranks No. 6 in the country in assists per game (7.1) and No. 12 in defensive rebounds per game (7.05). He is also leads the conference in double-doubles (6).
Cleveland (494 career assists) needs six assists to become the fifth player in program history with 500 career assists.
Liberty is the first team to start 11-0 or better in CUSA play since the 2022-23 Florida Atlantic team (11-0), who went on to make the Final Four. The Flames are the only team to start 11-0 since they joined the league prior to the start of the 2023-24 season.
Liberty is 44-of-51 from the foul line (86.3 percent) in the final two minutes of regulation and overtime in its 11 CUSA games.
The Flames have led for 346:15 of a possible 445 minutes in conference play (77.8 percent).
Liberty is 19-0 when outshooting its opponent and has shot 50 percent or better 14 times.
Decker Jr. has scored in double figures in 21 games this season. He has been Liberty's leading scorer (or tied) 10 times and has eight 20-plus point games. He is averaging a team-best 16.8 ppg in 11 CUSA games.
In 11 home wins, the Flames are averaging 85.5 points per game while surrendering 62.4 points per game.
Saturday will be a Red Out at Liberty Arena, with all of Flames Nation encouraged to don Liberty red.
All five starters are averaging in double figures in conference play (Decker Jr. 16.8 ppg/Metheny 14.5 ppg/Porter 12.5 ppg/Cleveland 11.7 ppg/Harper 11.4 ppg).
Cleveland (1,047 points) became the 35th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark in his Liberty career with an 11-point effort against NM State (Jan. 15). The senior joined Colin Porter (Jan. 8 at LA Tech) and Kaden Metheny (Dec. 16 at Midway) as one of three active 1,000-point scorers for the Flames.
Liberty has won 13 games in a row, the fifth longest streak in the nation at present and the second longest in school history. Here are some facts & figures from the streak:
-6-0 home, 7-0 road, 11-0 CUSA, 2-0 non-conference
-78.5 points per game, 67.5 points per game allowed
-52.3% from the field, 41.2% from three (129 3s), 75.1% from FT line
-Leading scorer: Brett Decker Jr. 16.3 ppg
-Leading rebounder: Zach Cleveland 6.9 rpg
-Leader in assists: Zach Cleveland 6.5 apg (78 total/12 games)
-Biggest margin of victory vs. a DI team: 16 (three times)-at Louisiana Tech (Jan. 8), vs. Delaware (Jan. 24) and at Middle Tennessee (Jan. 29)
-Closest win: 73-71 over New Mexico State (Jan. 15)
-Marquee non-conference win: 64-61 at Dayton (Dec. 20)
-Only 7.9 turnovers per game in the 13 wins, including eight games with seven or less
-All starters averaging in double figures in those 13 games (Decker Jr. 16.3 ppg/Metheny 14.5 ppg/Porter 12.3 ppg/Cleveland 11.8 ppg/Harper 10.3 ppg)
-17.1 assists per game, 6.8 steals per game
-Streak started on Dec. 16, last loss was Dec. 10 (will be a span of 59 days when Liberty plays Missouri State since it last lost)
-Longest winning streak in school history is 14 games, as the Flames started the 2019-20 season with a 14-0 record (Nov. 8-Dec. 21, 2019)
Liberty is No. 3 in CUSA and 34th in the nation in scoring defense (67.2 ppg allowed).
Liberty is ranked No. 3 in the College Insider Men's Mid-Major Top 25® for a third straight week, behind only No. 1 Gonzaga (22-2) and No. 2 Miami (Ohio) (23-0). The Flames are the only CUSA team in the Top 25.

Schedule

Players Mentioned

Zach Cleveland

Brett Decker Jr.

Kaden Metheny

Colin Porter

MBB Game Day: Missouri State

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Players Mentioned

Zach Cleveland

Brett Decker Jr.

Kaden Metheny

Colin Porter

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