The Liberty Flames (8-3, 0-0) open up conference play, playing the first of 20 CUSA contests on Sunday at FIU (7-4, 0-0).
Here’s what you need to know about the game:
How to Watch
2 p.m. ET | Sunday, December 28
Miami, Florida | Ocean Bank Convocation Center
TV: ESPN+
Liberty vs FIU Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty -3
Projected score: Liberty 78, FIU 75
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Senior Guard | 5’10”, 170
2025-26 stats: 10.7 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.4 rpg
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Senior Guard | 5’11”, 170
2025-26 stats: 13.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.1 apg
#4 Brett Decker
Sophomore Guard | 6’3″, 190
2025-26 stats: 17.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 53.6% 3-point field goals
#9 JJ Harper
R-Senior Guard | 6’5″, 200
2025-26 stats: 10.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.5 apg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Senior Forward | 6’7″, 220
2025-26 stats: 9.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 7.9 apg
Liberty vs FIU History
Liberty leads the all-time series, 4-3. The Flames swept the two-game season series last year, winning at Liberty Arena, 58-45, and in Miami, 82-59.
Liberty vs FIU Storylines
CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS
With Conference USA expanding to 12 members, the league has increased its conference schedule to 20 games, up from last year’s 18. Obviously, with the increased league membership, there will not be a balanced league schedule. Sunday’s game will be the first of 20 straight CUSA games for both Liberty and FIU. These two will play each other twice this season, with the Panthers coming to Liberty Arena on Thursday, Feb. 19.
The top 10 teams in the 12-league CUSA at the end of the regular season will advance to the 2026 CUSA Tournament in Huntsville, Alabama where the winner will earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It will be the same format as last year where the top six teams receive a first round bye into the quarterfinals and teams seeded 1 and 2 will have a day off between the quarterfinals and the semifinals. The path to Huntsville begins for Liberty on Sunday in Miami.
NOT YOUR NORMAL PANTHERS
FIU has struggled for much of their Division I history but especially in the past few seasons. Jeremy Ballard is in his 8th season leading the Panthers. He helped guide them to a 20-win and then 19-win season in his first two years, but since then it has been a tough go. FIU has posted five straight losing seasons as well as five straight losing records in conference play, including an 11-22 and 10-23 overall record the past two seasons while going 8-26 in CUSA action.
This year’s Panthers seem to be much improved. At 7-4, they are off to their best start 2021-22. FIU has won five of their past six games including wins over FGCU, Jacksonville, and Long Island. Three of their four losses have come against P4 teams, with setbacks at Nebraska, LSU, and Miami. They did lose at home in late November, 80-72, to James Madison. Outside of that game, the Panthers have been unblemished on their home floor, currently sitting at 6-1 at Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
After last year’s disappointing season, Coach Ballard went to the transfer portal and brought in a ton of new players. 6’6″ guard Corey Stephenson is currently leading the Panthers at 18 points per game. He came to FIU from Cal State Bakersfield where he averaged 11.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Houston Christian transfer Julian Mackey is averaging 14.6 points per game for FIU. The 6’2″ guard transferred in from Houston Christian where he led the team in scoring at 15 points per game. Samford transfer Hamed Olayinka, a 6’9″ forward, is averaging 10.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. 6’0″ guard Zawdie Jackson transferred in-conference, joining the Panthers from New Mexico State where he started all 32 games for the Aggies last season, averaging 10.5 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game. He’s currently averaging 9.8 points per game this season.
CONTRAST OF STYLES
As has been the case under Coach Ballard, FIU likes to play an up-tempo brand of basketball. After serving as an assistant under Shaka Smart at VCU, Ballard has adopted his brand of havoc style basketball, frequently playing a full court trapping defense while trying to speed up its opponents. In the past few seasons, FIU has continually ranked among the national leaders in steals and it is no different this season. The Panthers are currently averaging over 11 steals per game which leads CUSA. Of course, on the flip side, Liberty is one of the better teams in the country in handling the ball and valuing possession, limiting turnovers. Just looking at the tempo numbers, FIU ranks in the top 15 nationally, according to KenPom, in average possession length of just 14.6 seconds. Liberty is near the bottom of DI basketball in average possession length, ranking 324th nationally.
