Tuesday, March 17
Fairfax, Va.
6:00 PM ET
Liberty University
26-7,17-3CUSA
77
at
71
George Mason
23-10,11-7Atlantic 10
1st half1
2nd half2
FinalF
Liberty
34
43
77
George Mason
24
47
71
Liberty Closes Out George Mason For 77-71 Win in NIT 1st Round
3/17/2026 9:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FAIRFAX, Va. – Liberty was at its best down the stretch of its 2026 NIT first round contest at George Mason tonight, leading to a 77-71 victory at EagleBank Arena.
Tied at 67-all with 1:18 to play in the game, the Flames scored 10 of the next 12 points to close out their second-ever NIT victory and second victory over an A-10 foe this season. Liberty improves to 26-7 with the win. George Mason sees its season end with a 23-10 record. The Flames pick up their 11th road win of the year, bolstering their road mark Lynchburg to 11-2. The Patriots (17-3) suffer only their third home loss of the year.
Liberty moves on to the second round of the NIT, where it will face the winner of No. 2 seed Nevada (22-12) and Murray State (20-12). The Wolf Pack and Racers will square off at 10 p.m. Eastern, Wednesday night. The Flames' second round game will be played on Saturday or Sunday and could be at Liberty Arena or on the road.
Josh Smith, making his first start since Dec. 16, turned in his best performance in a Flames jersey with a season-high 23 points along with nine rebounds. Smith was 7-of-9 from the field, 2-of-2 from three-point territory and 7-of-8 from the foul line. Brett Decker Jr. added 17 points, and Zander Carter notched career highs in points (10) and rebounds (6). Colin Porter added 10 points, and Zach Cleveland stuffed the stat sheet again with nine points, seven assists and six rebounds. JJ Harper (eight points) had several big plays on the defensive end with three steals and three blocks.
Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Josh Smith 23 points (Liberty career high), 7-9 FG, 7-8 FT, 9 rebounds; Brett Decker Jr. 17 points, 4 rebounds; Zander Carter 10 points (career high), 5-6 FG, 6 rebounds (career high); Colin Porter 10 points; Zach Cleveland 9 points, 5-6 FT, 7 assists, 6 rebounds; JJ Harper 8 points, 3-4 FG, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks
George Mason Individuals: Jahari Long 27 points, 9-17 FG, 4-7 3FG, 5-6 FT, 4 assists; Kory Mincy 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals; Emmanuel Kanga 12 points, 6-7 FT, 10 rebounds; Riley Allenspach 9 points, 5-5 FT, 5 rebounds
Key Team Stats: Liberty finished the night at 49.1 percent (27-of-55) from the field, 85 percent (17-of-20) from the free throw line and 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from long range. The Flames held the Patriots to 39 percent shooting (23-of-59) on the night, including a 29 percent mark (9-of-31) in the first 20 minutes. George Mason was 83.3 percent (20-of-24) from the foul line but only 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from three-point territory. The Flames held advantages in assists (16-7), points in the paint (40-32), steals (7-5) and fast break points (7-5). Liberty never trailed in the game, leading for 37:57. The Patriots won the rebounding battle 36-32 and had the edge in second chance points (19-11) and bench points (14-10). Liberty only committed six turnovers, its fifth straight game with eight or less.
Turning Point
Liberty led by as many as 15 (32-17) in the opening half and took a 10-point advantage, 34-24, into the locker room behind 52 percent shooting. The Flames continued to hold a near-double-digit lead for the first part of the second half. Liberty led 58-47 at the 10:19 mark following a Josh Smith layup. An 11-2 Patriots run cut the deficit to 60-57 with 7:08 to go. George Mason tied it up for the first time (65-65) at the 3:32 mark following a layup from Emmanuel Kanga.
Kanga knocked down a pair of free throws at the 1:18 mark to even it at 67 apiece. On the next trip down the court, senior Zach Cleveland finished through contact for the go-ahead bucket with 57 seconds to go. Liberty's JJ Harper blocked Kory Mincy's jumper in the paint, leading to a transition down from Harper to put the guests up 71-67 with 28 seconds left. George Mason got back within two following a pair of foul shots, but Josh Smith's 4-of-4 foul shooting and a defensive stop gave Liberty a 75-69 lead with 11 seconds left. The Patriots' last chance effort was thwarted by a JJ Harper steal at midcourt, with Zander Carter's dunk putting an exclamation point on the win.
Key Stats & Notes
Liberty will await the winner of No. 2 seed Nevada (22-12) and Murray State (20-12). Those two squads play at 10 p.m. Eastern tomorrow night. The Flames' second round game could be on either Saturday or Sunday.
Tied at 67-all with 1:18 to play in the game, the Flames scored 10 of the next 12 points to close out their second-ever NIT victory and second victory over an A-10 foe this season. Liberty improves to 26-7 with the win. George Mason sees its season end with a 23-10 record. The Flames pick up their 11th road win of the year, bolstering their road mark Lynchburg to 11-2. The Patriots (17-3) suffer only their third home loss of the year.
Liberty moves on to the second round of the NIT, where it will face the winner of No. 2 seed Nevada (22-12) and Murray State (20-12). The Wolf Pack and Racers will square off at 10 p.m. Eastern, Wednesday night. The Flames' second round game will be played on Saturday or Sunday and could be at Liberty Arena or on the road.
Josh Smith, making his first start since Dec. 16, turned in his best performance in a Flames jersey with a season-high 23 points along with nine rebounds. Smith was 7-of-9 from the field, 2-of-2 from three-point territory and 7-of-8 from the foul line. Brett Decker Jr. added 17 points, and Zander Carter notched career highs in points (10) and rebounds (6). Colin Porter added 10 points, and Zach Cleveland stuffed the stat sheet again with nine points, seven assists and six rebounds. JJ Harper (eight points) had several big plays on the defensive end with three steals and three blocks.
Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Josh Smith 23 points (Liberty career high), 7-9 FG, 7-8 FT, 9 rebounds; Brett Decker Jr. 17 points, 4 rebounds; Zander Carter 10 points (career high), 5-6 FG, 6 rebounds (career high); Colin Porter 10 points; Zach Cleveland 9 points, 5-6 FT, 7 assists, 6 rebounds; JJ Harper 8 points, 3-4 FG, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks
George Mason Individuals: Jahari Long 27 points, 9-17 FG, 4-7 3FG, 5-6 FT, 4 assists; Kory Mincy 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals; Emmanuel Kanga 12 points, 6-7 FT, 10 rebounds; Riley Allenspach 9 points, 5-5 FT, 5 rebounds
Key Team Stats: Liberty finished the night at 49.1 percent (27-of-55) from the field, 85 percent (17-of-20) from the free throw line and 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from long range. The Flames held the Patriots to 39 percent shooting (23-of-59) on the night, including a 29 percent mark (9-of-31) in the first 20 minutes. George Mason was 83.3 percent (20-of-24) from the foul line but only 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from three-point territory. The Flames held advantages in assists (16-7), points in the paint (40-32), steals (7-5) and fast break points (7-5). Liberty never trailed in the game, leading for 37:57. The Patriots won the rebounding battle 36-32 and had the edge in second chance points (19-11) and bench points (14-10). Liberty only committed six turnovers, its fifth straight game with eight or less.
Turning Point
Liberty led by as many as 15 (32-17) in the opening half and took a 10-point advantage, 34-24, into the locker room behind 52 percent shooting. The Flames continued to hold a near-double-digit lead for the first part of the second half. Liberty led 58-47 at the 10:19 mark following a Josh Smith layup. An 11-2 Patriots run cut the deficit to 60-57 with 7:08 to go. George Mason tied it up for the first time (65-65) at the 3:32 mark following a layup from Emmanuel Kanga.
Kanga knocked down a pair of free throws at the 1:18 mark to even it at 67 apiece. On the next trip down the court, senior Zach Cleveland finished through contact for the go-ahead bucket with 57 seconds to go. Liberty's JJ Harper blocked Kory Mincy's jumper in the paint, leading to a transition down from Harper to put the guests up 71-67 with 28 seconds left. George Mason got back within two following a pair of foul shots, but Josh Smith's 4-of-4 foul shooting and a defensive stop gave Liberty a 75-69 lead with 11 seconds left. The Patriots' last chance effort was thwarted by a JJ Harper steal at midcourt, with Zander Carter's dunk putting an exclamation point on the win.
Key Stats & Notes
- Liberty picks up its second NIT victory in its second appearance in the postseason tournament. Three years ago (2023), the Flames bested the Villanova Wildcats 62-57 at Liberty Arena in the opening round.
- Josh Smith's 23 points were a Liberty career high, surpassing his previous high of 16 against Coppin State back on Dec. 6, and one off his collegiate career high of 24 points which he set two times while at Stetson.
- Brett Decker Jr. finished second on the squad with 17 points, his 30th game this year in double figures.
- Zander Carter notched a career-high 10 points tonight, his first game in double figures as a Flame. The freshman played 25 points and was an efficient 5-of-6 from the floor while grabbing a career-best six rebounds.
- This is the Flames' second road win over an A-10 foe this year. Liberty topped Dayton 64-61 at UD Arena on Dec. 20.
- CUSA Player of the Year Zach Cleveland (nine points, seven assists, six rebounds) notched his 20th game with seven or more assists this year. The senior forward was 5-of-6 from the foul line on the night.
- Liberty picks up its fourth all-time win over George Mason in 10 tries. Before tonight, the Flames and Patriots last met on Dec. 11, 2010. Liberty last defeated George Mason on Dec. 1, 2018, a 69-66 overtime result over the Patriots at the Vines Center.
- The Flames improve to 2-1 at the NIT.
- Liberty is one of 30 teams in the nation with 26 or more wins on the season.
- Tonight's 6 p.m. tip marked the first game of the NIT. Liberty will be one of only 16 teams remaining in the field after tomorrow night's results.
Liberty will await the winner of No. 2 seed Nevada (22-12) and Murray State (20-12). Those two squads play at 10 p.m. Eastern tomorrow night. The Flames' second round game could be on either Saturday or Sunday.
Team Stats
Lib
GMU
FG%
.491
.390
3FG%
.353
.294
FT%
.850
.833
RB
32
36
TO
6
8
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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