Liberty to Face High Point in 1st Game of 2026-27 in Field of 68 Showcase
4/9/2026 11:16:00 AM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty and High Point will tip off the 2026-27 college basketball season with a midnight game on Monday, Nov. 2 in the Field of 68 Showcase.
The game will be the first official contest of the college basketball season and the first midnight tip since ESPN's Nov. 15, 2016 kickoff. The Flames and Panthers, two of the premier mid-major programs in the nation, will square off at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, S.C.
Based on last year's successful launch, the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon is a showcase event that celebrates the official start of the college basketball season with consecutive games, studio programming and fan experiences. The 2025 edition featured three games, including hometown team Winthrop and three qualifiers for the NCAA tournament in High Point, Furman and Queens.
This will be the Flames' fourth straight season participating in a Field of 68 event. Liberty, Florida Atlantic and Charleston played in the Field of 68 Tip-Off each of the last three seasons. The Flames went 2-0 in the final year of the event, contested at Liberty Arena.
Liberty finished the 2025-26 season with a 26-8 overall record and 17-3 CUSA mark. The Flames claimed their second consecutive CUSA outright regular season title, winning the league by four games. Liberty qualified for the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) for the second time in program history and reached the second round of the event for a second time.
High Point ended the 2026-26 campaign with a 31-5 overall mark and 15-1 Big South mark. The Panthers claimed the Big South regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year. High Point, a No. 12 seed, earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament win, knocking off No. 5 seed Wisconsin 83-82 in the Round of 64.
Further details on tickets, broadcast partners and media credentials will be announced in the coming months via Liberty, High Point, Field of 68 and Visit York County channels.
"We are so excited to get a game of this magnitude to start the 24-hour marathon at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center. High Point was the lone true underdog to pull off a win in the NCAA tourney, and Flynn Clayman is back, while Ritchie McKay has made this Liberty program one of the best mid-majors in the country."
Jeff Goodman, Co-Founder of Field of 68 Media Network
"Visit York County is ready to build on a successful first year of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. Adding the midnight tip featuring two of the top mid-major programs in the country will continue to elevate this event and platform for our community."
Andy Clinton, President & CEO of Visit York County
The game will be the first official contest of the college basketball season and the first midnight tip since ESPN's Nov. 15, 2016 kickoff. The Flames and Panthers, two of the premier mid-major programs in the nation, will square off at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, S.C.
Based on last year's successful launch, the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon is a showcase event that celebrates the official start of the college basketball season with consecutive games, studio programming and fan experiences. The 2025 edition featured three games, including hometown team Winthrop and three qualifiers for the NCAA tournament in High Point, Furman and Queens.
BREAKING: Next year's Opening Day Marathon on @TheFieldOf68 will tip at midnight ET on Monday, Nov 2nd between @HPUMBB and @LibertyMBB ?? pic.twitter.com/sJnpVwMNat
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) April 3, 2026
This will be the Flames' fourth straight season participating in a Field of 68 event. Liberty, Florida Atlantic and Charleston played in the Field of 68 Tip-Off each of the last three seasons. The Flames went 2-0 in the final year of the event, contested at Liberty Arena.
Liberty finished the 2025-26 season with a 26-8 overall record and 17-3 CUSA mark. The Flames claimed their second consecutive CUSA outright regular season title, winning the league by four games. Liberty qualified for the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) for the second time in program history and reached the second round of the event for a second time.
High Point ended the 2026-26 campaign with a 31-5 overall mark and 15-1 Big South mark. The Panthers claimed the Big South regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year. High Point, a No. 12 seed, earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament win, knocking off No. 5 seed Wisconsin 83-82 in the Round of 64.
Further details on tickets, broadcast partners and media credentials will be announced in the coming months via Liberty, High Point, Field of 68 and Visit York County channels.
"We are so excited to get a game of this magnitude to start the 24-hour marathon at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center. High Point was the lone true underdog to pull off a win in the NCAA tourney, and Flynn Clayman is back, while Ritchie McKay has made this Liberty program one of the best mid-majors in the country."
Jeff Goodman, Co-Founder of Field of 68 Media Network
"Visit York County is ready to build on a successful first year of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. Adding the midnight tip featuring two of the top mid-major programs in the country will continue to elevate this event and platform for our community."
Andy Clinton, President & CEO of Visit York County
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