First round, Tuesday, March 11, 2025 (ESPN+)
#8 UTEP 79, #9 Sam Houston 65 (Box Score)
The Miners snapped a 7-game losing skid to defeat the Bearkats in the first game of the 2025 men’s CUSA Tournament in Huntsville, Alabama. UTEP had a balanced scoring attack with four finishing in double figures led by Corey Camper Jr. with 18 points. Kevin Kalu had 15 points and 15 rebounds (8 offensive) while the Miners held Sam Houston to 2 of 19 from three-point range. Meanwhile, UTEP was 12 of 25 from deep with six different players connecting from range led by Camper’s four triples.
#10 FIU 64, #7 Western Kentucky 61 (Box Score)
The Panthers erased a 13-point first half deficit to knock off the defending CUSA champs. Jayden Brewer scored 17 to go along with his 8 rebounds and 3 steals while Asim Jones added 17 points and was 8 of 9 from the free throw line. The Hilltoppers were just 1 of 18 from three, with the one make coming with less than 10 seconds left in the game. WKU had a shot as time expired to tie the game but it missed.
Quarterfinals, Wednesday, March 12, 2025 (ESPN+)
#1 Liberty 81, #8 UTEP 60 (Box Score)
The Flames made 12 straight field goals during a stretch in the second half when the regular season champs pushed its lead from 12 to over 20 to take control of the contest. Zach Cleveland led the way with 19 points and 6 assists while Kaden Metheny added 16 and Taelon Peter scored 14 on a perfect night shooting. Liberty shot 58.2% from the field and cruised to its largest margin of victory in a conference tournament game since the 2004 Big South final against High Point.
#2 Jacksonville State 65, #10 FIU 56 (Box Score)
Behind Jaron Pierre’s 19 points and Quel’Ron House’s 18, the Gamecocks picked up the win over the FIU Panthers on Wednesday night. FIU kept things interesting until the closing minutes, getting as close as four, but they were unable to get over the hump. The Panthers were just 8 of 18 from the free throw line for 44.4% and even missed a few front ends of a one-and-one that kept them playing from behind a couple of possessions.
Quarterfinals, Thursday, March 13, 2025 (ESPN+)
#4 Kennesaw State 80, #5 New Mexico State 77
It was a game of runs as both teams put together multiple runs throughout the game as they exchanged blows back and forth throughout the night. Kennesaw trailed by as many as 8 in the first half before they battled all the way back to tie the game in the closing minutes of the opening half. The Owls pushed their lead to as many as 12 in the opening minutes of the 2nd half before the Aggies had a 12-0 to tie it. Ultimately, Kennesaw would outlast NMSU in the closing seconds. The Aggies missed a free throw that would have tied it with three seconds left and then missed a half court shot at the buzzer. Simeon Cottle led the Owls with 32 points.
#3 Middle Tennessee 77, #6 Louisiana Tech 75 (2OT)
In the game of the tournament so far, MTSU outlasted Louisiana Tech in double overtime. Essam Mostafa’s offensive rebound and putback with 16 seconds remaining in the second overtime put the Blue Raiders in front. LA Tech’s Sean Newman missed a good look in the paint on the ensuing possession, and, after an offensive rebound and timeout, Al Green missed a jumper at the buzzer. MTSU nearly won the game in regulation, hitting a three-pointer as time expired, but, after an official’s review, it was ruled that the shot was not released in time and it was a shot clock violation with just one second remaining before the game went into overtime. Daniel Batcho only played 16 of the 50 minutes as he dealt with an ankle injury.
Semifinals, Friday, March 14, 2025 (CBSSN)
First semifinal, #1 Liberty 81, #4 Kennesaw State 79 (Box Score)
Liberty picked up the win and advances to the CUSA title game after a come from behind victory over the Kennesaw State Owls on Friday afternoon in the semifinals. The Owls led for the first 36+ minutes of the game and by as many as 14 points before Kaden Metheny helped shoot the Flames into the lead. He scored 16 points and had five made triples in the second half, finishing the game with 24 points. This win marks Liberty’s fifth consecutive game scoring 80 or more points for the first time since February 1997.
Second semifinal, #2 Jacksonville State 70, #3 Middle Tennessee 68 (Box Score)
The Gamecocks were able to prevail and secure a spot in the championship final with a win over Middle Tennessee in the semis. Freshman guard Quel’Ron House led the team with 20 points while shooting 60% from the field. CUSA Player of the Year Jaron Pierre had 14 second half points to push the Gamecocks to the close victory. He finished with 19 in the game. Middle Tennessee had possession as time ran out but they were unable to get a shot off in the closing seconds.
Finals, Saturday, March 15, 2025 (CBSSN)
#1 Liberty vs #2 Jacksonville State, 8:30 p.m.
*all times are Eastern
