Wednesday, March 11
Huntsville, Ala.
6:30 PM ET/5:30 PM CT
Liberty University
25-7,17-3CUSA
69
vs
77
Missouri State
16-17,8-12CUSA
1
2
F
Missouri St.
33
44
77
Liberty
37
32
69
Liberty Falls to Missouri State 77-69 in CUSA Championship Quarterfinal Round
3/11/2026 10:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Top-seeded and defending CUSA champion Liberty fell 77-69 to ninth-seeded Missouri State in the 2026 CUSA Men's Basketball Championship quarterfinals, Wednesday evening at Propst Arena.
Liberty falls to 25-7 on the year. Missouri State, who defeated FIU on Tuesday in the first round to face the Flames, improves to 16-17 overall and advances to Friday's semifinal round. The Bears will face the winner of No. 4 seed Louisiana Tech (18-13, 11-9 CUSA) and No. 5 Middle Tennessee (17-14, 11-9 CUSA), who will square off tomorrow night in the quarterfinals. That semifinal matchup will tip off at 12:30 p.m. Eastern, Friday on CBS Sports Network.
Liberty will find out the rest of its postseason fate on Sunday night. The Flames have automatically qualified for the NIT.
Flames senior Zach Cleveland, the CUSA Player of the Year, turned in another strong effort with a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds. Kaden Metheny and Brett Decker Jr. scored 14 points apiece. Missouri State senior forward Michael Osei-Bonsu scored a game-high and career-high 31 points (21 in second half) on 14-of-16 shooting to go along with eight rebounds.
This is Liberty's first-ever loss as a No. 1 seed in a conference tournament setting. The Flames entered this week a perfect 12-0 as the No. 1 seed all-time in league tournaments.
Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Zach Cleveland 20 points, 9-14 FG, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal; Kaden Metheny 14 points, 4-10 3FG, 3 assists; Brett Decker Jr. 14 points, 3 rebounds; Josh Smith 6 points 3-4 FG; Ryan Jones Jr. 5 points 2-4 FG, 5 blocks; Colin Porter 4 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
Missouri State Individuals: Michael Osei-Bonsu 31 points, 14-16 FG, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, +20 (game high); Kobi Williams 19 points, 3-6 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 assists; Trey Williams 10 points, 3-4 3FG; 3 assists; Keith Palek III 6 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 42.9 percent for the game. The Flames were at 57.1 percent (16-of-28) after the first half but struggled in the final 20 minutes, shooting 31.4 percent (11-of-35). Liberty finished the night at 29 percent (9-of-31) from the three-point line and 66.7 percent (6-of-9) from the foul line. Missouri State finished the contest shooting 56 percent (28-of-50), the highest percentage a Liberty opponent has shot this year. The Bears shot a blistering 73.7 percent (14-of-19) over the final 20 minutes and finished the game at 50 percent (8-of-16) from long range. Missouri State struggled from the foul line at 59.1 percent (13-of-22).
The Bears held a 34-30 rebounding edge, but the Flames matched a season high with 11 offensive boards to Missouri State's seven. Liberty led in assists (15-14), points off turnovers (20-10), second chance points (11-9), bench points (14-10), steals (7-3) and fast break points (9-5). Missouri State held the advantage in points in the paint, 38-34, and led for 19:44. Liberty held the edge for 18:03.The Flames turned the ball over eight times, their fourth straight game with eight or fewer turnovers. The Bears committed 10 miscues.
Turning Point
Both teams had a big run in this game, with the Flames using a 14-0 first half run to surge ahead 29-19 with 7:37 remaining in the stanza. Liberty took a 37-33 lead into the locker room.
The Flames led 47-37 with 16:38 on the clock following a pair of baskets off Bears turnovers, capped off by a Zach Cleveland layup. Missouri State answered back with a 15-0 run, extended to a 20-3 surge, to push ahead 57-50 with 9:55 left. The Bears' Osei-Bonsu scored 10 of those 22 points. Liberty responded with a 7-1 run, with Cleveland's putback cutting it to a one-point deficit, 58-57, with 7:46 on the clock.
Liberty stayed within striking distance, trailing 63-61 at the 3:52 mark, but Osei-Bonsu found Trey Williams Jr. for a key triple on the next trip down. On the Bears' following possession, Osei-Bonsu scored on a hook shot late in the shot clock to bump the lead to 68-61 at the 2:42 mark. The Flames closed with three, 70-67 , with 1:18 to go. Trey Williams Jr. buried a corner three-pointer with 59 seconds on the clock to bump the lead back up to six, 73-67. The Flames only connected on 1-of-5 field goals in the final minute, and the Bears hit four more free throws to help secure the victory.
Key Stats & Notes
Liberty will find out the rest of its postseason fate on Sunday evening. The Flames have automatically qualified for the NIT.
Liberty falls to 25-7 on the year. Missouri State, who defeated FIU on Tuesday in the first round to face the Flames, improves to 16-17 overall and advances to Friday's semifinal round. The Bears will face the winner of No. 4 seed Louisiana Tech (18-13, 11-9 CUSA) and No. 5 Middle Tennessee (17-14, 11-9 CUSA), who will square off tomorrow night in the quarterfinals. That semifinal matchup will tip off at 12:30 p.m. Eastern, Friday on CBS Sports Network.
Liberty will find out the rest of its postseason fate on Sunday night. The Flames have automatically qualified for the NIT.
Flames senior Zach Cleveland, the CUSA Player of the Year, turned in another strong effort with a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds. Kaden Metheny and Brett Decker Jr. scored 14 points apiece. Missouri State senior forward Michael Osei-Bonsu scored a game-high and career-high 31 points (21 in second half) on 14-of-16 shooting to go along with eight rebounds.
This is Liberty's first-ever loss as a No. 1 seed in a conference tournament setting. The Flames entered this week a perfect 12-0 as the No. 1 seed all-time in league tournaments.
Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Zach Cleveland 20 points, 9-14 FG, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal; Kaden Metheny 14 points, 4-10 3FG, 3 assists; Brett Decker Jr. 14 points, 3 rebounds; Josh Smith 6 points 3-4 FG; Ryan Jones Jr. 5 points 2-4 FG, 5 blocks; Colin Porter 4 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
Missouri State Individuals: Michael Osei-Bonsu 31 points, 14-16 FG, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, +20 (game high); Kobi Williams 19 points, 3-6 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 assists; Trey Williams 10 points, 3-4 3FG; 3 assists; Keith Palek III 6 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists
Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 42.9 percent for the game. The Flames were at 57.1 percent (16-of-28) after the first half but struggled in the final 20 minutes, shooting 31.4 percent (11-of-35). Liberty finished the night at 29 percent (9-of-31) from the three-point line and 66.7 percent (6-of-9) from the foul line. Missouri State finished the contest shooting 56 percent (28-of-50), the highest percentage a Liberty opponent has shot this year. The Bears shot a blistering 73.7 percent (14-of-19) over the final 20 minutes and finished the game at 50 percent (8-of-16) from long range. Missouri State struggled from the foul line at 59.1 percent (13-of-22).
The Bears held a 34-30 rebounding edge, but the Flames matched a season high with 11 offensive boards to Missouri State's seven. Liberty led in assists (15-14), points off turnovers (20-10), second chance points (11-9), bench points (14-10), steals (7-3) and fast break points (9-5). Missouri State held the advantage in points in the paint, 38-34, and led for 19:44. Liberty held the edge for 18:03.The Flames turned the ball over eight times, their fourth straight game with eight or fewer turnovers. The Bears committed 10 miscues.
Turning Point
Both teams had a big run in this game, with the Flames using a 14-0 first half run to surge ahead 29-19 with 7:37 remaining in the stanza. Liberty took a 37-33 lead into the locker room.
The Flames led 47-37 with 16:38 on the clock following a pair of baskets off Bears turnovers, capped off by a Zach Cleveland layup. Missouri State answered back with a 15-0 run, extended to a 20-3 surge, to push ahead 57-50 with 9:55 left. The Bears' Osei-Bonsu scored 10 of those 22 points. Liberty responded with a 7-1 run, with Cleveland's putback cutting it to a one-point deficit, 58-57, with 7:46 on the clock.
Liberty stayed within striking distance, trailing 63-61 at the 3:52 mark, but Osei-Bonsu found Trey Williams Jr. for a key triple on the next trip down. On the Bears' following possession, Osei-Bonsu scored on a hook shot late in the shot clock to bump the lead to 68-61 at the 2:42 mark. The Flames closed with three, 70-67 , with 1:18 to go. Trey Williams Jr. buried a corner three-pointer with 59 seconds on the clock to bump the lead back up to six, 73-67. The Flames only connected on 1-of-5 field goals in the final minute, and the Bears hit four more free throws to help secure the victory.
Key Stats & Notes
- Senior Zach Cleveland's double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds is his ninth double-double of the year. The forward is tied for the CUSA lead with nine double-doubles this year.
- Kaden Metheny continued his strong shooting at Propst Arena, hitting four three-pointers tonight. In five all-time CUSA games at the facility, the guard has drained 26 triples.
- This is the second time in three years (other: 2024) in Conference USA that the Flames have been eliminated in the CUSA Championship quarterfinal round. Last year, Liberty claimed its first CUSA title, going 3-0 at the tournament.
- Liberty has dropped four of its last six games.
- Missouri State avenges a 79-76 Feb. 7 regular season loss to Liberty. The Bears improve to 2-1 all-time against the Flames in what was the first postseason meeting between the two squads.
- Brett Decker Jr. knocked down two three-pointers tonight and scored 14 points. The sophomore is up to 111 makes from long distance on the season.
- The Flames are 3-2 all-time at the CUSA Tournament.
- Liberty held Missouri State's top scorer, Keith Palek III (17.7 ppg) scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting in the opening half. Palek III finished the game with only six points.
- The Flames fall to 19-14 all-time in conference tournament quarterfinal games and 38-28 all-time in Division I conference tournament contests.
- Liberty is 1-3 in neutral site games during the 2025-26 season.
Liberty will find out the rest of its postseason fate on Sunday evening. The Flames have automatically qualified for the NIT.
Team Stats
MOST
Lib
FG%
.560
.429
3FG%
.500
.290
FT%
.591
.667
RB
34
30
TO
10
8
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballCoach McKay, Kaden Metheny & Zach Cleveland Talk About The Missouri State Game
Thursday, March 12
Coach McKay Talks About The Win Over SHSU
Saturday, March 07
Zach Cleveland, Colin Porter & Kaden Metheny Talk About The Win Over SHSU
Saturday, March 07
Coach McKay Talks About The LA Tech Game
Friday, March 06