Liberty Flames, Lady Flames sweep CUSA Basketball titles, punch tickets to NCAA Tournaments

Liberty’s men’s and women’s basketball teams won their first Conference USA titles on Saturday, punching their tickets to their respective NCAA Division DI National Tournaments.

The Flames improve to 28-6 on the season by topping No. 2 seed Jacksonville State 79-67. Kaden Metheny was named CUSA Championship MVP for his efforts, while Taelon Peter joined Metheny on the all-tournament team. Meanwhile, Jacksonville State drops to 22-12 on the year.

This is Liberty’s fourth conference championship title in the last seven years and seventh conference crown overall. The Flames now have 10 total titles (four conference tournament, six regular season and/or division crowns) over the last seven years.

Liberty will face Oregon (24-9) in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship on Friday at 10:10 p.m. EST. The Flames will enter the NCAA Tournament as a No. 12 seed, tied for the highest seeding in school history. The Oregon Ducks are the No. 5 seed. The winner of the Liberty vs. Oregon matchup will face the victor in the game between No. 4 seed Arizona (22-12) and No. 13 seed Akron (28-6).

Tickets are available at LibertyFlames.com/MarchMadness.

In a rematch of the 2024 CUSA Women’s Basketball Championship title game, No. 1 seed Liberty turned the tables on two-time defending champion No. 2 seed Middle Tennessee. The Lady Flames came out victorious in a 53-48 defensive struggle for their first CUSA title, Saturday at Propst Arena.

Liberty (26-6) will take an 11-game winning streak into its 18th NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship appearance but its first since 2018. Emma Hess scored a team-high 14 points, including the Lady Flames’ last five of the contest. Meanwhile, Tournament MVP Bella Smuda (10 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks) and All-Tournament Team member Asia Boone (11 points, 3-6 3FG) joined her in double digits.

Middle Tennessee (26-8) got 23 points and 10 rebounds from All-Tournament Team pick Ta’Mia Scott. But the Blue Raiders shot just 33.3 percent (18-of-54) and were outrebounded 42-30.

The Lady Flames, a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament, will take on No. 4 seed and host Kentucky Wildcats in the first round. Game time and broadcast information have not yet been finalized.

The winner of the Liberty-Kentucky clash will face the victor of the first-round meeting between No. 5 seed Kansas State and No. 12 seed Fairfield, Sunday in the second round. All three of those contests will be played at Kentucky’s Historic Memorial Coliseum.

Tickets are available at LibertyFlames.com/MarchMadness.