Liberty men’s basketball opened the 2026-27 season with a disappointing loss, falling to High Point, 72-57, early Monday morning at the Field of 68 Showcase in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
The Flames trailed by just three at halftime, but the Panthers utilized a decisive second-half surge to pull away from Liberty and spoil the season opener for the defending Conference USA regular-season champions. Liberty, featuring nine newcomers and an entirely new starting lineup, showed flashes of promise but struggled to sustain its offensive production after the break.
High Point’s Second-Half Surge Changes Everything
Liberty entered the second half trailing 37-34, remaining firmly within striking distance of the former Big South rival. The Flames continued to hang around early in the second half, trailing 53-46 with 11:47 remaining. However, High Point took advantage of a difficult stretch for Liberty, including the departures of Zander Carter and Cooper Campbell, to create separation.
The Panthers followed with a 14-4 run, capped by a three-pointer from Curtis Williams Jr. with 6:02 remaining, extending their lead to 67-50. Liberty managed only 11 points over the final 11-plus minutes and never seriously threatened to make the game competitive again. The Panthers’ ability to find offensive rhythm after halftime proved to be the difference, as Liberty struggled to generate consistent scoring opportunities.
Carter Delivers Breakout Performance
Despite the loss, Zander Carter provided one of the biggest positives for Liberty. The sophomore guard finished with a game-high and career-high 21 points, shooting 9-of-14 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range. He also added six rebounds and four steals, establishing career highs in scoring and steals. Carter was particularly effective in the opening half, scoring 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting as Liberty stayed within striking distance.
His previous career-high scoring output was 10 points, making Monday’s performance a significant breakthrough for the young guard. Unfortunately for Liberty, Carter was forced to leave the game during the second half due to cramps, just as High Point began to pull away.
New-Look Flames Face Early Growing Pains
Liberty entered the season with nine newcomers, including six transfers and three freshmen. All five starters made their first starts in a Liberty uniform. The starting lineup consisted of Cooper Campbell, Eli Sancomb, Zander Carter, Dillon Claussen and Osmar Garcia-Araujo. With so many new faces, Monday’s opener represented the first opportunity for the group to establish chemistry.
High Point presented a difficult challenge. The Panthers entered the season after a historic 31-5 campaign that included a Big South regular-season and tournament championship and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Flames showed enough in the opening half to suggest they could compete, but the second-half struggles highlighted the adjustments still needed as the newcomers settle into their roles. Liberty also dealt with adversity when Carter and Campbell both exited during the second half.
Sancomb, Claussen Provide Encouraging Debuts
Freshman Eli Sancomb finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists in his Liberty debut. Sancomb scored eight points early in the contest before going quiet offensively for much of the game, eventually reaching double figures late. While his scoring production faded, his four assists and six rebounds demonstrated his ability to contribute in other areas as he adjusts to the college game.
Dillon Claussen also made an immediate impact defensively. The newcomer finished with six blocks, establishing a career high and becoming the first Liberty player to record at least six blocks in a game since Antwan Burrus accomplished the feat against Campbell in February 2012. Claussen added three rebounds and helped Liberty finish with seven blocks as a team.
Offensive Struggles Prove Costly
The biggest concern for Liberty was its inability to maintain offensive efficiency after halftime. The Flames shot 46.4% from the field in the opening half before connecting on just 28.8% of their attempts after the break. Liberty finished the game shooting 37.5% from the field and 19.2% from three-point range, making just 5-of-26 attempts from beyond the arc.
High Point shot 49.1% overall and 30% from three-point range. The Panthers also controlled the paint, outscoring Liberty 42-32 in that category while holding a 38-31 rebounding advantage. High Point’s depth proved especially valuable, as the Panthers recorded a 37-15 advantage in bench points.
The Flames did have some positives, finishing with 11 assists, nine steals and seven blocks. However, those contributions weren’t enough to overcome the offensive struggles.
A Historic Season Opener
Monday’s game marked the earliest season opener in Liberty men’s basketball history and the first Division I college basketball game of the 2026-27 season. The loss also snapped Liberty’s five-game winning streak in season openers. The contest marked the first meeting between Liberty and High Point since February 2018. The Flames now hold a 24-18 advantage in the all-time series.
High Point entered the season as the defending Big South champion and was picked to finish first in the conference preseason poll. Liberty, meanwhile, was selected third in Conference USA after winning the league’s regular-season title last year.
Looking Ahead
There is no reason for panic after one game, particularly with so many newcomers still adjusting to their roles. Carter’s breakout performance, Sancomb’s promising debut and Claussen’s defensive impact offer encouraging signs for the Flames moving forward. However, the second-half collapse against High Point demonstrated how quickly a competitive game can get away from Liberty when its offense stalls and the opposition finds its rhythm.
The Flames will look to put the opener behind them and begin building momentum when they return home to face Boyce on Saturday afternoon at Liberty Arena.
Final Score: High Point 72, Liberty 57
