The Liberty Flames (12-3, 4-0) will look to conclude it’s first two-game road swing with a perfect 2-0 mark and remain unbeaten in conference play on Saturday afternoon at Sam Houston (9-6, 1-3).
Here’s what you need to know about the game:
How to Watch
3:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, January 10
Huntsville, Texas | Johnson Coliseum
TV: ESPN+
Liberty vs Sam Houston Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty +1
Projected score: Sam Houston 79, Liberty 78
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Senior Guard | 5’10”, 170
2025-26 stats: 11.8 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.8 rpg
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Senior Guard | 5’11”, 170
2025-26 stats: 14.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.0 apg
#4 Brett Decker
Sophomore Guard | 6’3″, 190
2025-26 stats: 17.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 50.9% 3-point field goals
#9 JJ Harper
R-Senior Guard | 6’5″, 200
2025-26 stats: 9.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.3 apg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Senior Forward | 6’7″, 220
2025-26 stats: 10.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 7.4 apg
Liberty vs Sam Houston History
Liberty leads, 4-2. The Flames swept the season series last year with a 76-68 win in Texas on Jan. 9 of last year. Colin Porter led the Flames with 17 points.
Liberty vs Sam Houston Storylines
DON’T OVERLOOK THE BEARKATS BECAUSE OF THEIR RECORD
At first glance, Sam Houston is 9-6 overall and just 1-3 in conference. So, it looks like an easy win for the Flames on the road as the defending champs, preseason faves, and current unbeaten. Not so fast, my friend. The Bearkats entered this week as the 2nd highest rated team in CUSA in NET and the 2nd highest rated CUSA team in KenPom. They went 8-3 out of conference with solid wins over Wyoming and at Oregon State. Their losses were to Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Utah, all on the road. Not bad losses. Third-year head coach Chris Mudge has a strong squad this year that should compete in the top half of the league standings.
Yes, they have had a slow start in conference play, but they started with arguably the toughest schedule in the league through their first three games playing at New Mexico State, Western Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee, all teams that are also likely going to be in the top half of CUSA this season. Not many teams will pick up wins in those venues this year. The Bearkats bounced bounc with a win Thursday night over Delaware to open their two-game homestand this weekend. Sam Houston is 5-0 on their home floor this season.
BALANCED, DEEP ATTACK
Mudge and the Bearkats have a very balanced and deep offensive attack. They typically play at least 9 guys per game and have 8 players averaging between 7.5 and 12.3 points per game this season.
Projected starters:
- 6’0″, Justin Begg
- 6’3″, Kashie Natt
- 6’4″, Damon Nicholas
- 6’5″, Po’Boigh King
- 6’10”, Veliko Ilic
Begg is in his first year at Sam Houston after transferring in from George Mason. He’s averaging 9.8 points per game. Matt is also in his first year with the Bearkats. An NAIA transfer, he is averaging 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 42.9% from three. Nicholas is in his fourth season at Sam Houston and is averaging 7.9 points per game. King is originally from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina and transferred to Sam Houston this year after averaging 16.7 points per game last year. He currently leads the Bearkats at 12.3 points per game. Ilic is in his first year at Sam Houston. A transfer from Loyola Maryland, he is averaging 10.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
A couple of names to watch from off the bench including Isaiah Manning and Jacob Walker. Manning is a 6’8″ forward who transferred from TCU that is averaging 11.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Walker is a 6’1″ freshman who is averaging 8.2 points per game.
“They are really good,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay of Sam Houston. “I’ve taken a peak at them. I watched them against Oregon State, they went into Corvallis and won. I’ve seen a little bit of them. Chris has done a really good job. They’ve got really good complimentary pieces. They’ve got a kid from the NAIA level that is having a phenomenal start to his season. They won’t beat themselves. They are a group that runs really sound offense. They are hard to play defensively. They will be really well prepared, but that’s every game in this league. You’re not going anywhere on the road in Conference USA and think we just show up and win because this league is really really good.”
