The Liberty Flames (24-5, 16-2), the CUSA outright regular season champion, begin its final week of the regular season on Thursday night, playing host to Louisiana Tech (16-13, 9-9).

Here’s what you need to know about the game:

How to Watch

7 p.m. ET | Thursday, March 5
Lynchburg, Virginia | Liberty Arena
TV: ESPN+

Liberty vs Louisiana Tech Odds (KenPom)

Spread: Liberty -10
Projected score: Liberty 73, Louisiana Tech 63

Liberty Projected Starters

#0 Colin Porter

Senior Guard | 5’10”, 170
2025-26 stats: 11.8 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.0 rpg

#3 Kaden Metheny

R-Senior Guard | 5’11”, 170
2025-26 stats: 13.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.1 apg

#4 Brett Decker

Sophomore Guard | 6’3″, 190
2025-26 stats: 16.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 49.0% 3-point field goals

#9 JJ Harper

R-Senior Guard | 6’5″, 200
2025-26 stats: 11.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 61.9% FG

#25 Zach Cleveland

Senior Forward | 6’7″, 220
2025-26 stats: 11.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 6.8 apg, 61.0% FG

Liberty vs Louisiana Tech History

Liberty leads, 3-2. Liberty defeated the Bulldogs, 72-56, in Ruston on Jan. 8. The teams have split each year’s season series during the first two years of Liberty’s tenure in CUSA.

Liberty vs Louisiana Tech Storylines

PREVIOUS MEETING

The Flames led for all but 40 seconds in the opening minutes, taking control of this game early and never looking back in a very business-like approach from a veteran team. Liberty went on an 8-0 and 11-1 run to push the lead to double figures while holding Louisiana Tech without a field goal for nearly six minutes of game action. Zach Cleveland scored six straight points for the Flames as part of the run as he scored 10 points in the first half to go along with six rebounds and five assists in the opening 20 minutes. The Bulldogs cut it to six on a couple occasions early in the second half before a pair of Colin Porter free throws pushed the visitors’ advantage to double figures. Over the final 14:21 of the game, Louisiana Tech would not get the game back under a 10-point deficit.

The Flames picked up their first ever win in Ruston, Louisiana at the Thomas Assembly Center after dropping the first two contests there over the prior two seasons. The Bulldogs entered that game a perfect 8-0 on their home floor this season, going on to finish the year at 14-3 at home. It was also the first time a team has won a game away from home in the series history between the Flames and Bulldogs.

All five starters reached double figures for the Flames led by Brett Decker who had 15 points on 6 of 12 shooting and 3 of 6 from three. He also had a career-high 6 rebounds. JJ Harper had 13 points on 4 of 7 shooting. Colin Porter and Kaden Metheny each had 11 points. Zach Cleveland flirted with a triple double with 10 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. Josh Smith added 8 points and 8 rebounds off the bench.

Liberty shot 46% from the field while holding the Bulldogs to 35%. Both teams were 9 of 24 from three (38%). Liberty was 13 of 16 from the free throw line (81%). The Flames won the rebound battle, 41-33 and also held a 10-6 edge in second chance points, something that has been a weakness of this team much of the season.

SINCE THEN

It’s been almost two full months since Liberty and Louisiana Tech last met as that first game happened in the first week of January. That win was just Liberty’s 6th straight of what would eventually become a 17-game winning streak. Meanwhile, it was a third straight loss for the Bulldogs who slipped to 1-3 in conference play. They responded to win four of their next five as they got right back into the mix of things in the middle of the pack in Conference USA. La Tech has continued to hang around in the middle of the pack, entering Thursday night’s game after alternating wins and losses the past six games. The Bulldogs are coming off an 84-76 loss at home to FIU.

Projected Louisiana Tech starters:

  • 6’3″, SO, AJ Bates (10.5 ppg, 5.8 apg)
  • 6’3″, JR, DJ Dudley (14.4 ppg)
  • 6’6″, FR, Jaylen Fenner (5.2 ppg)
  • 6’7″, SR, Will Allen (3.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
  • 6’10”, SR, Sir Isaac Herron (4.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg)

“They are playing super on the defensive end and that’s Coach Hester,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay of the Bulldogs. “No matter what year we’ve played them, they’ve been really good defensively. Guys, I think, have fit into some roles a little bit where they’ve got some more confidence offensively and some more continuity in the substitution patterns. But we’re different too. I think there’s an obvious gameplan attack against us – go to the offensive boards, see if you can throw it up there, go get one, and be really physical. The more that we get clicks at defending against that or understanding how we have to appropriate that, the better for us.”

LOOKING TO HUNTSVILLE

At this point in the season, all 12 CUSA members are eyeing Huntsville, Alabama and next week’s CUSA Tournament. The Bulldogs have already secured a spot in Huntsville as they cannot finish outside of the top 10. Entering Thursday’s action, Louisiana Tech is currently part of a three-way tie for fifth place in the league alongside Middle Tennessee and Jacksonville State who are all 9-9 in conference play. A top 6 finish would secure a first-round bye into the quarterfinals.

Liberty has clinched the number 1 seed in Huntsville and cannot help or hurt its stay in next week’s tournament based on this week’s action. Still, the Flames have dropped two out of three and have had one-possession wins in four of their last five wins including Saturday’s win at Jax State. Liberty will be looking to end the regular season on a high note and send its senior class out with a pair of victories on its home floor.