For just the second time in program history, Liberty (25-7, 17-3 CUSA) has received a bid to the NIT. The un-seeded Flames travel to Fairfax, Virginia to take on No. 3 seed George Mason (23-9, 11-7 Atlantic 10) on Tuesday night at EagleBank Arena in a first round game. Tipoff is 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Here’s everything you need to know for Tuesday’s matchup:
How to Watch
6 p.m. ET | Tuesday, March 17
Fairfax, VA | EagleBank Arena
TV: ESPN2
Liberty vs George Mason Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty +6
Projected score: George Mason 74, Liberty 68
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Senior Guard | 5’10”, 170
2025-26 stats: 11.4 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.0 rpg
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Senior Guard | 5’11”, 170
2025-26 stats: 13.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.1 apg
#4 Brett Decker
Sophomore Guard | 6’3″, 190
2025-26 stats: 16.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 48.1% 3-point field goals
#9 JJ Harper
R-Senior Guard | 6’5″, 200
2025-26 stats: 10.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 59.1% FG
#25 Zach Cleveland
Senior Forward | 6’7″, 220
2025-26 stats: 11.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 6.8 apg, 62.1% FG
Liberty vs George Mason History
The Flames and Patriots will be meeting for the 10th time ever but first since the 2010-11 season. Liberty fell 84-54 to George Mason at the Vines Center on Dec. 11, 2010 in the most recent meeting. Liberty is 3-6 all-time versus George Mason.
Liberty vs George Mason Storylines
ABOUT THE NIT
For most of the teams that advance to the NIT, it comes with a bit of a mixed feeling. Many had strong seasons and had their eyes on making it to the Big Dance, but for one reason or another had to settle for the NIT. These teams may not be thrilled to be here while others are excited for the opportunity. This is Liberty’s second NIT bid in program history, both of which have come in the last four seasons. Liberty played in the 2023 NIT, its first-ever NIT nod. The Flames topped Villanova, 62-57, in the first round at Liberty Arena, followed by a 75-71 setback at Wisconsin in the second round.
NIT first round games are held Tuesday and Wednesday at campus sites, with second round games set for Saturday and Sunday, also at campus locations. The NIT quarterfinal games are held March 24-25 at campus sites. Four teams will then advance to historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for the semifinals which kick off Final Four weekend on April 2. The NIT championship will be played April 5 at 8 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse following the conclusion of the Division II and Division III men’s basketball national championships.
First round action on campus sites feature number one seeds, Auburn, New Mexico, Tulsa and Wake Forest facing South Alabama, CUSA member Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, and Navy, respectively. Other first round games include Murray State at Nevada, University of Illinois Chicago at California, Davidson at Oklahoma State, Dayton at Bradley, Liberty at George Mason, Saint Joseph’s at Colorado State, Wyoming at Wichita State, University of North Carolina Wilmington at Yale, St. Thomas (Minnesota) at Seattle University, George Washington at Utah Valley, UNLV at UC Irvine, and Kent State at Illinois State.
For the fifth straight season, the NIT seeded only the top half of the 32-team field. The bottom 16 unseeded teams were placed into the bracket by the NIT Committee as close to their area of natural interest as possible.
If the Flames are victorious against the Patriots in the first round, Liberty would face either No. 2 seed Nevada or Murray State in the second round on Saturday.
Chattanooga won the 2025 NIT Championship in an 85-84 overtime win over UC Irvine at Hinkle Fieldhouse. NIT games throughout the 2026 tournament are being televised by ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN+.
Here is the full 2026 NIT bracket:
ABOUT GEORGE MASON
George Mason finished fifth in the A-10 before losing to St. Bonaventure, 63-57, in their first game of the A-10 Tournament this past Thursday night. Under third year head coach Tony Skinn, the Patriots have won at least 20 games for the past four seasons and are in the NIT for a second straight year. Last year, George Mason defeated Samford in the first round of the NIT before losing at home to Bradley, 75-67, in the second round to finish the year at 27-9 overall.
Skinn has returned to his alma mater where during his senior season he helped lead George Mason to a historic run to the Final Four. After concluding his professional playing career, Skin jumped into coaching where he served as an assistant at Louisiana Tech, Seton Hall, Ohio State, and Maryland. In March 2023, George Mason hired Skinn as their new head coach. After a 20-12 record in his first year, Skinn and the Patriots went 27-9 and 15-3 in conference play a season ago, finishing tied for first atop the A-10 standings in the regular season before playing in the NIT.
This season, George Mason jumped out to a 9-0 start and was 18-1 entering late January. The Patriots dropped two out of four games but were still sitting at 21-3 overall and 9-2 in conference play, looking like a true threat in the A10. They would struggle down the stretch though, dropping four straight and five out of seven before being upset by St. Bonaventure in its first game in the A10 Tournament.
The Patriots are currently ranked No. 92 in the NET and No. 96 in KenPom. George Mason is led by four players who average double figures including 6’2″ guard Kory Mincy who averages 14.3 points per game. 6’11” forward is averaging 13.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while 6’5″ guards Jahari Long (11.8 points) and Fatt Hill (10.3 points) are also in double figures.
George Mason and Liberty have faced two common opponents in Florida Atlantic and Dayton. The Patriots defeated FAU, 74-65, on a neutral floor on November 25 and lost at home to Dayton, 82-67, on February 18. The Flames beat both Dayton (64-61 in Dayton on December 20) and FAU (88-68 in Lynchburg on November 9).
Projected George Mason starters:
- Kory Mincy, 6’2″, JR – 14.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 39.4% from 3
- Jahari Long, 6’5″, SR – 11.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.0 apg, 36.6% from 3
- Masai Troutman, 6’5″, SR – 8.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 33.7% from 3
- Nick Ellington, 6’8″, SR – 4.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg
- Riley Allenspach, 6’11”, JR – 13.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 32.3% from 3
