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Cleveland Receives 2nd CUSA POTW Award of 2025-26 Campaign
2/9/2026 3:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – After recording his first career triple-double in Saturday's win over Missouri State, Liberty's Zach Cleveland has been named the Conference USA Men's Basketball Player of the Week.
This is Cleveland's second CUSA Player of the Week honor of the season and first since Nov. 10. The forward has received the honor three times in his career. Prior to this season's two recognitions, Cleveland earned the award back on Feb. 5, 2024.
Cleveland posted his first career triple-double (19 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) in the 79-76 triumph over the Missouri State Bears at Liberty Arena, this past Saturday, helping the Flames win their 14th straight game overall. Cleveland and the Flames improved to 20-3 on the season, a perfect 12-0 in CUSA games and an unblemished 12-0 at home. The senior from Bloomington, Ill., averaged 11.5 ppg, 10.0 apg, 6.0 rpg and 1.5 spg on 62.5 percent shooting in a pair of wins over Missouri State and on the road at Delaware (last Wednesday).
Cleveland is the 20th different player in Division I this year to record a triple-double, and his triple-double was the first for the Flames since Jesse Sanders did so on Jan. 21, 2012 against High Point and the first by a Conference USA player since Max Fiedler of Rice accomplished the feat on Jan. 16, 2023. Cleveland is one of only 12 players in conference history to notch a triple-double in a CUSA league game.
In Wednesday's 75-69 Flames win at Delaware, Cleveland dished out nine assists to go along with four points, two boards and a steal. The senior is averaging 11.0 ppg (No. 4 on team), 7.8 rpg (No. 1 on team) and 7.3 apg (No. 1 on team, No. 4 in nation).
Cleveland and the Flames' (20-3, 12-0 CUSA) 14-game winning streak is the fourth longest in the nation at present and tied for the longest in program history. Liberty has won 17 straight league games (including postseason play) dating back to last year, the longest streak in the country, and the Flames are one of only four teams in the country to be unbeaten in league play.
Liberty will be back in action on the road at New Mexico State (11-12, 4-9 CUSA), Wednesday evening. Game time is 9 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Mountain) from the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M. The matchup can be seen on ESPN+.
This is Cleveland's second CUSA Player of the Week honor of the season and first since Nov. 10. The forward has received the honor three times in his career. Prior to this season's two recognitions, Cleveland earned the award back on Feb. 5, 2024.
Cleveland posted his first career triple-double (19 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) in the 79-76 triumph over the Missouri State Bears at Liberty Arena, this past Saturday, helping the Flames win their 14th straight game overall. Cleveland and the Flames improved to 20-3 on the season, a perfect 12-0 in CUSA games and an unblemished 12-0 at home. The senior from Bloomington, Ill., averaged 11.5 ppg, 10.0 apg, 6.0 rpg and 1.5 spg on 62.5 percent shooting in a pair of wins over Missouri State and on the road at Delaware (last Wednesday).
Cleveland is the 20th different player in Division I this year to record a triple-double, and his triple-double was the first for the Flames since Jesse Sanders did so on Jan. 21, 2012 against High Point and the first by a Conference USA player since Max Fiedler of Rice accomplished the feat on Jan. 16, 2023. Cleveland is one of only 12 players in conference history to notch a triple-double in a CUSA league game.
In Wednesday's 75-69 Flames win at Delaware, Cleveland dished out nine assists to go along with four points, two boards and a steal. The senior is averaging 11.0 ppg (No. 4 on team), 7.8 rpg (No. 1 on team) and 7.3 apg (No. 1 on team, No. 4 in nation).
Cleveland and the Flames' (20-3, 12-0 CUSA) 14-game winning streak is the fourth longest in the nation at present and tied for the longest in program history. Liberty has won 17 straight league games (including postseason play) dating back to last year, the longest streak in the country, and the Flames are one of only four teams in the country to be unbeaten in league play.
Liberty will be back in action on the road at New Mexico State (11-12, 4-9 CUSA), Wednesday evening. Game time is 9 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Mountain) from the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M. The matchup can be seen on ESPN+.
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