LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty closed out its non-conference portion of the schedule with a 79-56 win over visiting UT Arlington, Saturday afternoon at Liberty Arena. The Flames improve to 12-1 and 6-0 at home after their ninth consecutive victory. Meanwhile, the Mavericks slip to 6-7 on the season and 1-4 in road contests after being held to a season-low 56 points and just 31.4 percent (22-of-70) shooting. Liberty's Kaden Metheny led the way with a game-high 25 points, converting on 7-of-13 three-point attempts. Zach Cleveland (18 points, 10 rebounds) notched his first career double-double, while Taelon Peter added 18 points. The Mavericks' Lance Ware tallied a double-double of 15 points and 11 boards to lead the guests. Box Score HighlightsLiberty Individuals: Kaden Metheny 25 points, 7-13 3FG, 5 assists, 4 rebounds; Zach Cleveland 18 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists; Taelon Peter 18 points, 7-11 FG; Jayvon Maughmer 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals; Owen Aquino 4 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks; Colin Porter 3 points, 7 assists, 2 steals UT Arlington Individuals: Lance Ware 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals; Raysean Seamster 10 points, 5-8 FG, 4 rebounds Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 52.9 percent (27-of-51) from the floor and improves to 8-0 on the year when shooting 50 percent or better. The Flames were efficient from three-point territory, knocking down 15-of-32 attempts (46.9 percent). UT Arlington shot a season-worst 31.4 percent (22-of-70) from the field and struggled at the three-point line, making only 10 percent (2-of-20). The Flames assisted on 24 of their 27 made field goals, while the Mavericks tallied only four assists on their 22 makes. UTA outrebounded Liberty 39-34 and was strong on the offensive glass with 18 offensive boards, leading to 13 second chance points. The Flames' bench outscored the UTA bench 23-18, led by Taelon Peter's 18 points. Turning PointA pair of big runs, one in each half, helped the Flames pull away from the Mavericks. Liberty jumped out to an 18-7 lead before an 11-1 UT Arlington run trimmed the lead to 19-18 with 8:07 remaining in the opening frame. Liberty closed the half on a 20-4 run the rest of the way to claim a commanding 39-22 lead, while UTA made only 1-of-12 field goal attempts to close the half. UTA scored nine of the first 14 points in the second stanza to close within 13, 44-31, with 13:49 remaining. The Flames stretched the lead out to 21, 63-42, with 8:16 to go. Following a UT Arlington basket to make it 63-44, Liberty went on a 10-0 to push the lead all the way up to 29 (73-44). Taelon Peter's dunk (6:05 mark) on the fast break and Kaden Metheny's layup (5:40 mark) punctuated the run. Key Stats & Notes Kaden Metheny's 25 points are his most in a Liberty uniform. His previous high as a Flame was 22 points against Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 7. Metheny's career high is 29 points, set against Eastern Michigan on Feb. 23, 2021 while at Bowling Green. The guard was a game-best +34 in 33:25 of action. Metheny's seven three-pointers this afternoon are his most as a Flame. Zach Cleveland had 18 points and 10 rebounds, his first career double-double. The junior added two assists, a steal and a block. Liberty's 12-1 start is its best since the 2019-20 season when the Flames started the year 14-0. The Flames' only loss in non-conference competition came to Florida Atlantic, 77-74 in overtime on Nov. 16. The Flames defense held the Mavericks to a season-low 56 points, 10 points below their previous season low. UTA's previous season low was 66 points against Murray State. During Liberty's nine-game winning streak, the Flames are averaging 83.8 ppg while surrendering 56.3 ppg. Liberty is shooting 53.8 percent from the field during that stretch. Taelon Peter is averaging 24.0 ppg over his last two games. Colin Porter dished out a game-high seven assists. Jayvon Maughmer grabbed eight rebounds, tied for his second-highest total of the season, to go along with eight points. Owen Aquino matched a season high with five blocks and added four points, four rebounds and four assists. Up NextLiberty will be back in action on Jan. 2 to open Conference USA action. The Flames will host the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (9-3) in their first CUSA game of the season. The two teams split the season series last year. Liberty topped WKU 82-79 at Liberty Arena on Senior Day (March 9, 2024) last season and fell 70-68 to the Hilltoppers in what was its inaugural CUSA contest (Jan. 6, 2024).[embedded content][embedded content]

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty closed out its non-conference portion of the schedule with a 79-56 win over visiting UT Arlington, Saturday afternoon at Liberty Arena. The Flames improve to 12-1 and 6-0 at home after their ninth consecutive victory. Meanwhile, the Mavericks slip to 6-7 on the season and 1-4 in road contests after being held […]

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty closed out its non-conference portion of the schedule with a 79-56 win over visiting UT Arlington, Saturday afternoon at Liberty Arena.

The Flames improve to 12-1 and 6-0 at home after their ninth consecutive victory. Meanwhile, the Mavericks slip to 6-7 on the season and 1-4 in road contests after being held to a season-low 56 points and just 31.4 percent (22-of-70) shooting.

Liberty’s Kaden Metheny led the way with a game-high 25 points, converting on 7-of-13 three-point attempts. Zach Cleveland (18 points, 10 rebounds) notched his first career double-double, while Taelon Peter added 18 points. The Mavericks’ Lance Ware tallied a double-double of 15 points and 11 boards to lead the guests.

Box Score Highlights
Liberty Individuals: Kaden Metheny 25 points, 7-13 3FG, 5 assists, 4 rebounds; Zach Cleveland 18 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists; Taelon Peter 18 points, 7-11 FG; Jayvon Maughmer 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals; Owen Aquino 4 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks; Colin Porter 3 points, 7 assists, 2 steals

UT Arlington Individuals: Lance Ware 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals; Raysean Seamster 10 points, 5-8 FG, 4 rebounds

Key Team Stats: Liberty shot 52.9 percent (27-of-51) from the floor and improves to 8-0 on the year when shooting 50 percent or better. The Flames were efficient from three-point territory, knocking down 15-of-32 attempts (46.9 percent). UT Arlington shot a season-worst 31.4 percent (22-of-70) from the field and struggled at the three-point line, making only 10 percent (2-of-20). The Flames assisted on 24 of their 27 made field goals, while the Mavericks tallied only four assists on their 22 makes. UTA outrebounded Liberty 39-34 and was strong on the offensive glass with 18 offensive boards, leading to 13 second chance points. The Flames’ bench outscored the UTA bench 23-18, led by Taelon Peter’s 18 points.

Turning Point
A pair of big runs, one in each half, helped the Flames pull away from the Mavericks. Liberty jumped out to an 18-7 lead before an 11-1 UT Arlington run trimmed the lead to 19-18 with 8:07 remaining in the opening frame. Liberty closed the half on a 20-4 run the rest of the way to claim a commanding 39-22 lead, while UTA made only 1-of-12 field goal attempts to close the half.

UTA scored nine of the first 14 points in the second stanza to close within 13, 44-31, with 13:49 remaining. The Flames stretched the lead out to 21, 63-42, with 8:16 to go. Following a UT Arlington basket to make it 63-44, Liberty went on a 10-0 to push the lead all the way up to 29 (73-44). Taelon Peter’s dunk (6:05 mark) on the fast break and Kaden Metheny’s layup (5:40 mark) punctuated the run.

Key Stats & Notes

Kaden Metheny’s 25 points are his most in a Liberty uniform. His previous high as a Flame was 22 points against Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 7. Metheny’s career high is 29 points, set against Eastern Michigan on Feb. 23, 2021 while at Bowling Green. The guard was a game-best +34 in 33:25 of action.
Metheny’s seven three-pointers this afternoon are his most as a Flame.
Zach Cleveland had 18 points and 10 rebounds, his first career double-double. The junior added two assists, a steal and a block.
Liberty’s 12-1 start is its best since the 2019-20 season when the Flames started the year 14-0. The Flames’ only loss in non-conference competition came to Florida Atlantic, 77-74 in overtime on Nov. 16.
The Flames defense held the Mavericks to a season-low 56 points, 10 points below their previous season low. UTA’s previous season low was 66 points against Murray State.
During Liberty’s nine-game winning streak, the Flames are averaging 83.8 ppg while surrendering 56.3 ppg. Liberty is shooting 53.8 percent from the field during that stretch.
Taelon Peter is averaging 24.0 ppg over his last two games.
Colin Porter dished out a game-high seven assists. Jayvon Maughmer grabbed eight rebounds, tied for his second-highest total of the season, to go along with eight points.
Owen Aquino matched a season high with five blocks and added four points, four rebounds and four assists.

Up Next
Liberty will be back in action on Jan. 2 to open Conference USA action. The Flames will host the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (9-3) in their first CUSA game of the season.

The two teams split the season series last year. Liberty topped WKU 82-79 at Liberty Arena on Senior Day (March 9, 2024) last season and fell 70-68 to the Hilltoppers in what was its inaugural CUSA contest (Jan. 6, 2024).

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