Liberty clinched at least a share of the CUSA regular season title on Thursday night with a win over the FIU Panthers. With the win, the Flames improved to 23-3 on the season and 15-0 in CUSA play and have won 17 straight overall, the second longest win streak in school history. The Flames have seen tremendous success over the past several seasons under head coach Ritchie McKay. Liberty has won at least a share of the regular season title six out of the last eight seasons. If you include the ASUN Division Title in 2022, it makes it seven out of the last eight years.
In program history, Liberty has now won eight regular season titles (nine including the 2022 ASUN Division Title) at the Division I level. Here’s a look back at those campaigns:
1996-97 Big South co-champs
In 1996-97, Liberty won its first regular season championship at the Division I level. Under head coach Jeff Meyer, the Flames went 20-9 and 11-3 in the Big South, tying with UNC Asheville for the regular season title. The Flames lost to Charleston Southern in the Big South Tournament championship game.
2003-04 Big South co-champs
In 2004 under head coach Randy Dunton, the Flames got back to the top of the Big South, posting an 18-15 record and 12-4 conference mark. The Flames were co-champs with Birmingham Southern and went on to win the Big South Tournament. The Flames then advanced to the program’s second ever NCAA Tournament, falling to No. 1 seed St. Joe’s, 82-63.
2018-19 ASUN co-champs
It was 15 years before Liberty got back to a regular season title when Ritchie McKay led the Flames to the top of the ASUN in the team’s first year in its new league. The Flames went 29-7 overall and 14-2 in conference play, earning a co-championship with Lipscomb. The Flames would defeat the Bison in the ASUN Tournament Final, advancing to the Big Dance where Liberty would win its first ever NCAA Tournament game, defeating 5-seed Mississippi State before losing to Virginia Tech in the second round.
2019-20 ASUN co-champs
For the first time ever, the Flames won a second straight regular season title, claiming a share of the ASUN championship in 2020. The Flames went 30-4 overall and 13-3 in the ASUN, sharing the regular season crown with North Florida. Liberty would go on to win its second straight ASUN Tournament, once again defeating Lipscomb before the NCAA Tournament was canceled due to COVID.
2020-21 ASUN
Coach McKay led the Flames to a third straight regular season (and tournament) title in 2021. Liberty went 23-6 and 11-2 in conference play, winning the program’s first ever outright regular season title. The Flames would go on to win the ASUN Tournament before losing to 4-seed Oklahoma State in the first round of the NCAAs.
2021-22 (Division Title) ASUN
In 2022, the ASUN went to a divisional format. The Flames were 12-4 and atop their division in conference play, but Jacksonville State, playing in the other division, claimed the regular season title with a 13-3 conference record. Liberty finished the season with a 22-11 overall record and were upset in the ASUN Tournament semifinals to Bellarmine.
2022-23 ASUN co-champs
Liberty won its fourth regular season title in five years with the regular season title in 2023. The Flames finished the year at 27-9 and 15-3 in conference play, losing to Kennesaw State in the ASUN Conference Tournament championship game. The Flames advanced to the NIT, defeating Villanova at home before falling at Wisconsin.
2024-25 CUSA
In the program’s second year in Conference USA, Liberty posted a 28-7 overall record, 13-5 mark in conference play in the regular season to win the program’s second ever outright regular season title. The Flames went on to win the CUSA Tournament before losing to Oregon as a 12-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
2025-26 CUSA
Liberty is currently 23-3 overall and 15-0 in CUSA play. The Flames need just one win in its final five regular season games OR one Sam Houston loss in the regular season to clinch the program’s first ever back-to-back outright regular season title.
