Liberty Flames Defeat Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 81-65
Thursday, January 29, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Murphy Center
Liberty Flames 81, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 65, 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 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders?
Liberty Flames beat Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 81-65 at Murphy Center on January 29, 2026.
Who was favored in Liberty Flames vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders?
Liberty Flames were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -122 (about 55% implied). The favorite won.
The Liberty Flames secured a convincing 81-65 victory over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at the Murphy Center. This matchup highlighted the contrasting fortunes of both teams, with Liberty continuing their impressive run, extending their winning streak to ten games, while Middle Tennessee faced their second consecutive loss.
Liberty's recent form has been exceptional, boasting a record of 10-0 in their last ten games. They have averaged 77.0 points per game while allowing 68.7 points, demonstrating a strong offensive and defensive balance. In their latest contest, they defeated the Delaware Blue Hens 67-51, showcasing their ability to control the game. In contrast, Middle Tennessee has struggled, recording a 6-4 record over their last ten games, with an average of 70.3 points scored and 67.1 points allowed. Their most recent game resulted in a 58-75 loss to the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, indicating a dip in performance as they head into this matchup.
At home, Middle Tennessee holds a solid record of 5-0, but their away performance has been less impressive at 1-4. Liberty, on the other hand, has been dominant both at home and on the road, with a perfect 5-0 record in away games. This fixture was particularly significant as it marked the third meeting between these two teams, with Liberty winning both previous encounters in the 2025 season, 86-81 and 73-63.
In terms of injuries, the block does not specify any key players missing for either team, suggesting both squads were at full strength for this important game. The market reflected Liberty's strong form, with DraftKings setting the odds at LIB -1.5, indicating that they were favored to win. The total points line was set at 136.5, reflecting expectations for a competitive scoring affair.
Conditions in the Murphy Center were typical for a basketball game, with no unusual weather factors affecting play. Fans could expect an exciting matchup, particularly watching for Liberty's effective scoring and Middle Tennessee's attempts to counteract their momentum.
As the game unfolded, Liberty's dominance became apparent. They maintained control throughout, with key scoring plays including a series of free throws from JJ Harper and critical jump shots from Torey Alston and Colin Porter. The Flames' ability to execute under pressure was evident, as they consistently extended their lead, culminating in a final score of 81-65.
This victory not only solidifies Liberty's position in the league but also raises questions about Middle Tennessee's ability to bounce back from recent setbacks. With both teams looking to build momentum as the season progresses, this game serves as a pivotal moment for their respective campaigns.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | LIB -1.5 | 136.5 o -115 / u -105 | Liberty Flames -122 · Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders +102 |
Leaders
- PointsTorey Alston20Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
- AssistsSean Smith3Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
- ReboundsTorey Alston12Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
- PointsKaden Metheny29Liberty Flames
- AssistsZach Cleveland9Liberty Flames
- ReboundsZach Cleveland6Liberty Flames
Recent form
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Last 10: 6-4Streak L170.3 scored · 67.1 allowed per game5-0 at home
- L58-75at Jacksonville State GamecocksJan 24
- W90-87vs Missouri State BearsJan 17
- L58-59at Louisiana Tech BulldogsJan 15
- W59-55at New Mexico State AggiesJan 11
- L80-83at UTEP MinersJan 9
- W68-67vs Sam Houston BearkatsJan 4
- W88-51vs Louisiana Tech BulldogsJan 3
- L60-69at Houston CougarsDec 30
- W74-58vs Cumberland PhoenixDec 21
- W68-67vs Kennesaw State OwlsDec 18
Liberty Flames
Last 10: 10-0Streak W1077 scored · 68.7 allowed per game5-0 away
- W67-51vs Delaware Blue HensJan 24
- W76-69at Western Kentucky HilltoppersJan 22
- W80-69vs UTEP MinersJan 17
- W73-71vs New Mexico State AggiesJan 15
- W82-74at Sam Houston BearkatsJan 10
- W72-56at Louisiana Tech BulldogsJan 9
- W78-69vs Jacksonville State GamecocksJan 4
- W81-73vs Kennesaw State OwlsJan 3
- W97-94at Florida International PanthersDec 28
- W64-61at Dayton FlyersDec 20
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 |
Box score
| Stat | Liberty Flames | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 32-52 | 23-54 |
| Field goal % | 62 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 10-21 | 9-27 |
| Three-point % | 48 | 33 |
| Free throws | 7-10 | 10-16 |
| Free throw % | 70 | 63 |
| Rebounds | 23 | 33 |
| Offensive rebounds | 0 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 21 |
| Assists | 13 | 11 |
| Steals | 6 | 3 |
| Blocks | 2 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 2 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 5 |
| Points in the paint | 44 | 26 |
| Fouls | 15 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 20 | 2 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 90 | 4 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half43-29Kaden Metheny makes 27-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half45-29Kaden Metheny makes driving layup (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half47-29JJ Harper makes layup
- 2nd Half49-29Kaden Metheny makes layup
- 2nd Half49-32Kamari Lands makes 25-foot three point jumper (Sean Smith assists)
- 2nd Half51-32Brett Decker Jr. makes driving layup
- 2nd Half51-34Jahvin Carter makes driving layup
- 2nd Half51-35Jahvin Carter makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half53-35Zach Cleveland makes layup
- 2nd Half54-35Zach Cleveland makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half54-37Torey Alston makes layup
- 2nd Half56-37Kaden Metheny makes driving layup
- 2nd Half56-40Sean Smith makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jahvin Carter assists)
- 2nd Half56-43Marcus Whitlock Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Sean Smith assists)
- 2nd Half58-43JJ Harper makes 1-foot dunk (Kaden Metheny assists)
- 2nd Half58-46Jahvin Carter makes 26-foot three point jumper (Sean Smith assists)
- 2nd Half58-48Torey Alston makes 1-foot dunk (Luka Jovanovic assists)
- 2nd Half60-48Zach Cleveland makes layup
- 2nd Half60-50Sean Smith makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half60-52Jahvin Carter makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-52Zach Cleveland makes 6-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half64-52Zach Cleveland makes layup
- 2nd Half65-52Zach Cleveland makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half68-52Brett Decker Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Kaden Metheny assists)
- 2nd Half70-52Brett Decker Jr. makes driving layup (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half70-53Torey Alston makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-54Torey Alston makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-54Zach Cleveland makes layup
- 2nd Half72-56Torey Alston makes layup (Marcus Whitlock Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half72-57Torey Alston makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-59Torey Alston makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half74-59Kaden Metheny makes driving layup
- 2nd Half75-59JJ Harper makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-61Torey Alston makes 6-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half77-61Colin Porter makes 5-foot jumper
- 2nd Half79-61Kaden Metheny makes driving layup (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half79-62Torey Alston makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-62JJ Harper makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half81-62JJ Harper makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half81-65Sean Smith makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jahvin Carter assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, below favours Liberty Flames.
Venue
- Murphy CenterMurfreesboro, TN
- Attendance3922
- OfficialsDon Daily, Byron Jarrett, Vladimir Voyard-Tadal
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond