Liberty Flames Defeat George Mason Patriots 77-71
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 6:00 PM ET · EagleBank Arena
Liberty Flames 77, George Mason Patriots 71, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Liberty Flames vs George Mason Patriots?
Liberty Flames beat George Mason Patriots 77-71 at EagleBank Arena on March 17, 2026.
Who was favored in Liberty Flames vs George Mason Patriots?
George Mason Patriots were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -170 (about 63% implied). The underdog won.
In a competitive matchup, the Liberty Flames secured a 77-71 victory over the George Mason Patriots at EagleBank Arena on March 17, 2026. This game was particularly notable as it showcased the contrasting recent forms of both teams, with Liberty entering the contest with a stronger record and offensive output compared to George Mason.
The Flames, boasting a season record of 26-7, have been performing well, especially in their last ten games, where they held a record of 6-4. Their scoring average during this stretch was 75.7 points per game, while they allowed an average of 77.5 points. In contrast, the Patriots, with a record of 23-10, struggled recently, managing only a 3-7 record over their last ten games, averaging 65.7 points scored and 68.8 points allowed. This disparity in form was evident throughout the game.
At home, George Mason had a record of 3-3 in their last six games, while they struggled on the road with an 0-4 away record. Liberty, on the other hand, had a balanced home record of 3-3 and a solid away record of 3-1, indicating their ability to perform well regardless of venue.
The two teams had faced each other previously, but the specifics of those past meetings were not detailed in the block. However, this matchup was critical for both teams as they aimed to solidify their standings.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific information, leaving the health status of key players unknown. However, both teams fielded their lineups without reported injuries affecting their performance.
Betting lines from DraftKings indicated that George Mason was favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 141.5. The odds reflected the competitive nature of the fixture, with George Mason’s moneyline at -170.0 and Liberty’s at 142.0.
The game conditions were typical for an indoor basketball setting, with no adverse weather factors impacting play. As the game unfolded, viewers witnessed a tightly contested battle, particularly in the second half, where Liberty pulled away late.
Key moments included a series of free throws by Jahari Long and Josh Smith that helped Liberty maintain their lead. Smith's contributions from the free-throw line were crucial, as he made several key shots that extended the Flames' advantage. Zander Carter's dunk, assisted by JJ Harper, capped off the scoring for Liberty, pushing the lead to 77-69 before George Mason managed a final layup from Long.
Ultimately, the Flames' ability to capitalize on free throws and their offensive execution in the closing minutes proved decisive, allowing them to overcome George Mason and secure the win.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | GMU -2.5 | 141.5 o -110 / u -110 | Liberty Flames +142 · George Mason Patriots -170 |
Leaders
- PointsJahari Long27George Mason Patriots
- AssistsJahari Long4George Mason Patriots
- ReboundsEmmanuel Kanga10George Mason Patriots
- PointsJosh Smith23Liberty Flames
- AssistsZach Cleveland7Liberty Flames
- ReboundsJosh Smith9Liberty Flames
Recent form
George Mason Patriots
Last 10: 3-7Streak L165.7 scored · 68.8 allowed per game3-3 at home
- L57-63vs St. Bonaventure BonniesMar 12
- W86-57vs Saint Louis BillikensMar 7
- L65-70at VCU RamsMar 4
- W71-58vs St. Bonaventure BonniesFeb 28
- L63-81at Saint Joseph's HawksFeb 26
- L67-82vs Dayton FlyersFeb 19
- L53-72at George Washington RevolutionariesFeb 14
- L70-82at Richmond SpidersFeb 11
- W60-52vs Saint Joseph's HawksFeb 7
- L65-71vs Duquesne DukesFeb 5
Liberty Flames
Last 10: 6-4Streak L175.7 scored · 77.5 allowed per game3-1 away
- L69-77vs Missouri State BearsMar 11
- W79-72vs Sam Houston BearkatsMar 7
- L71-76vs Louisiana Tech BulldogsMar 6
- W81-78at Jacksonville State GamecocksFeb 28
- L65-74at Kennesaw State OwlsFeb 27
- L73-94vs Western Kentucky HilltoppersFeb 21
- W90-89vs Florida International PanthersFeb 19
- W73-64at UTEP MinersFeb 14
- W77-75at New Mexico State AggiesFeb 12
- W79-76vs Missouri State BearsFeb 7
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 26-8 | - | 17-3 |
| Sam Houston | 22-12 | 4 | 13-7 |
| Louisiana Tech | 20-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Western Kentucky | 18-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Middle Tennessee | 17-15 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Kennesaw State | 21-14 | 7 | 10-10 |
| Jacksonville State | 15-17 | 7 | 10-10 |
| New Mexico State | 16-16 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Missouri State | 16-18 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Florida International | 15-17 | 9 | 8-12 |
| UTEP | 11-20 | 8 | 7-13 |
| Delaware | 10-21 | 11 | 6-14 |
| Saint Louis | 29-6 | - | 15-3 |
| VCU | 28-8 | - | 15-3 |
| Saint Joseph's | 24-12 | 2 | 13-5 |
| Dayton | 25-12 | 3 | 12-6 |
| George Mason | 23-10 | 4 | 11-7 |
| Davidson | 20-14 | 5 | 10-8 |
| Duquesne | 18-15 | 6 | 9-9 |
| George Washington | 19-16 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Fordham | 17-15 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Rhode Island | 16-16 | 8 | 7-11 |
| Richmond | 15-17 | 10 | 5-13 |
| La Salle | 9-23 | 10 | 5-13 |
| St. Bonaventure | 17-17 | 11 | 4-14 |
| Loyola Chicago | 9-24 | 11 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Liberty Flames | George Mason Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-55 | 23-59 |
| Field goal % | 49 | 39 |
| Three-pointers | 6-17 | 5-17 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 29 |
| Free throws | 17-20 | 20-24 |
| Free throw % | 85 | 83 |
| Rebounds | 32 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 15 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 21 |
| Assists | 16 | 7 |
| Steals | 7 | 5 |
| Blocks | 3 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 10 | 10 |
| Fast-break points | 7 | 5 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 32 |
| Fouls | 17 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 15 | 0 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 95 | 0 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half48-39Brett Decker Jr. makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half48-40Jahari Long makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-40Josh Smith makes 23-foot three point jumper (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half51-43Jahari Long makes 24-foot three point jumper (Malik Presley assists)
- 2nd Half54-43Colin Porter makes 22-foot three point jumper (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half54-44Kory Mincy makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-46Masai Troutman makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half56-46Brett Decker Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half56-47Masai Troutman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-47Josh Smith makes layup (Colin Porter assists)
- 2nd Half58-49Emmanuel Kanga makes layup
- 2nd Half58-50Emmanuel Kanga makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half58-52Kory Mincy makes layup
- 2nd Half60-52Brett Decker Jr. makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half60-55Kory Mincy makes 29-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half60-56Emmanuel Kanga makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-57Emmanuel Kanga makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-57Josh Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-57Josh Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-58Kory Mincy makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-59Kory Mincy makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-59Colin Porter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-61Kory Mincy makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half65-61Zander Carter makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half65-63Devin Booker makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half65-65Emmanuel Kanga makes layup (Jahari Long assists)
- 2nd Half66-65Brett Decker Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-65Brett Decker Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-66Emmanuel Kanga makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-67Emmanuel Kanga makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-67Zach Cleveland makes layup
- 2nd Half71-67JJ Harper makes 3-foot dunk (Brett Decker Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half71-68Jahari Long makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-69Jahari Long makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-69Josh Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-69Josh Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-69Josh Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-69Josh Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-69Zander Carter makes 4-foot dunk (JJ Harper assists)
- 2nd Half77-71Jahari Long makes layup
Win probability
Above the line favours George Mason Patriots, below favours Liberty Flames.
Venue
- EagleBank ArenaFairfax, VA
- Attendance1485
- OfficialsMichael Luckie, Ryan Sassano, Joe Switzer
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