Liberty Flames Edge Missouri State Bears in Close Contest
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Liberty Arena (VA)
Liberty Flames 79, Missouri State Bears 76, 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 Missouri State Bears vs Liberty Flames?
Liberty Flames beat Missouri State Bears 79-76 at Liberty Arena (VA) on February 7, 2026.
Who was favored in Missouri State Bears vs Liberty Flames?
Liberty Flames were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -485 (about 83% implied). The favorite won.
The Liberty Flames secured a narrow victory over the Missouri State Bears, finishing the game with a score of 79-76. This matchup showcased the Flames' impressive home record of 20-3 against the Bears' away record of 13-10, highlighting the Flames' dominance at Liberty Arena in Virginia.
Liberty entered this game on a remarkable winning streak, having won their last ten games, with an average of 76.5 points scored and 66.6 points allowed during this stretch. Their recent form included a decisive win against the Delaware Blue Hens just two days prior, where they emerged victorious with a score of 75-69. In contrast, Missouri State had a mixed performance recently with a record of 6-4 in their last ten games, although they were coming off a victory against Jacksonville State, winning 74-67. The Bears averaged 77.7 points scored and allowed 75.4 points during this recent stretch, indicating a more offensive approach but also a vulnerability on defense.
At home, Liberty maintained a perfect record of 5-0 in their last five games, while Missouri State struggled on the road with a 2-3 record in their last five away games. This home advantage was significant, as Liberty has been formidable on their own court, reflecting their strong overall home performance.
In terms of previous meetings, the block does not provide specific past matchups between these two teams, but the current standings and form suggest that Liberty was favored to win this contest. The market reflected this sentiment, with DraftKings setting the odds at LIB -9.5, indicating a strong expectation for Liberty to win by a significant margin. The total for the game was set at 140.5, with over odds at -115.0 and under odds at -105.0, suggesting a competitive scoring environment.
The game conditions were favorable for both teams, with no specific adverse weather or venue issues reported. As the game progressed, viewers witnessed a tense battle, particularly in the second half, where the scoring plays highlighted the close nature of the contest. Key moments included multiple free throws by Colin Porter, who contributed significantly to Liberty's final score, and a crucial three-point jumper by Tyrique Brooks that kept the game competitive.
In the final moments, Liberty's ability to convert free throws proved essential, as they maintained their lead despite the Bears' efforts to close the gap. The Flames' final scoring plays included a series of successful free throws that ultimately secured their victory, underscoring their composure under pressure.
Overall, this matchup was a testament to Liberty's strong home performance and Missouri State's resilience, making it a compelling fixture in the NCAAB landscape.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | LIB -9.5 | 140.5 o -115 / u -105 | Missouri State Bears +370 · Liberty Flames -485 |
Leaders
- PointsBrett Decker Jr.20Liberty Flames
- AssistsZach Cleveland11Liberty Flames
- ReboundsZach Cleveland10Liberty Flames
- PointsKeith Palek III25Missouri State Bears
- AssistsTrey Williams Jr.5Missouri State Bears
- ReboundsKeith Palek III9Missouri State Bears
Recent form
Liberty Flames
Last 10: 10-0Streak W1076.5 scored · 66.6 allowed per game5-0 at home
- W75-69at Delaware Blue HensFeb 5
- W81-65at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersJan 30
- 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
Missouri State Bears
Last 10: 6-4Streak W177.7 scored · 75.4 allowed per game2-3 away
- W74-67vs Jacksonville State GamecocksJan 31
- L71-80vs Sam Houston BearkatsJan 29
- W62-57at UTEP MinersJan 24
- W84-75at New Mexico State AggiesJan 23
- L87-90at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersJan 17
- L72-87at Western Kentucky HilltoppersJan 15
- W79-71vs Florida International PanthersJan 10
- L80-90at Kennesaw State OwlsJan 8
- W89-82vs New Mexico State AggiesJan 4
- W79-55vs UTEP MinersJan 3
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 | Missouri State Bears | Liberty Flames |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-56 | 27-49 |
| Field goal % | 48 | 55 |
| Three-pointers | 8-17 | 7-20 |
| Three-point % | 47 | 35 |
| Free throws | 14-26 | 18-28 |
| Free throw % | 54 | 64 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 28 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 5 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 23 |
| Assists | 14 | 22 |
| Steals | 5 | 6 |
| Blocks | 3 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 9 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 3 | 5 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 38 |
| Fouls | 19 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 20 |
| Lead changes | 6 | 6 |
| Time in front | 3 | 86 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half42-48Kaden Metheny makes 25-foot three point jumper (Brett Decker Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half42-49Josh Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-50Josh Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-53Kaden Metheny makes 24-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half42-56Colin Porter makes 24-foot three point jumper (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half42-58Brett Decker Jr. makes layup (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half44-58Keith Palek III makes layup
- 2nd Half44-60Josh Smith makes layup (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half44-62Josh Smith makes layup (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half44-64Zach Cleveland makes layup
- 2nd Half46-64Kobi Williams makes 16-foot pullup jump shot (Trey Williams Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half46-66Zach Cleveland makes 3-foot dunk (Kaden Metheny assists)
- 2nd Half48-66Melakih Cunningham makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half48-67JJ Harper makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-67Michael Osei-Bonsu makes driving layup
- 2nd Half50-68Colin Porter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-68Melakih Cunningham makes 5-foot dunk
- 2nd Half53-68Melakih Cunningham makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-68Melakih Cunningham makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-71Ryan Jones Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half55-71Michael Osei-Bonsu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-71Keith Palek III makes layup (Melakih Cunningham assists)
- 2nd Half59-71Michael Osei-Bonsu makes layup (Keith Palek III assists)
- 2nd Half61-71Keith Palek III makes 7-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half63-71Michael Osei-Bonsu makes layup
- 2nd Half63-72Colin Porter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-73Colin Porter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-73Keith Palek III makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tyrique Brooks assists)
- 2nd Half66-74Brett Decker Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-75Brett Decker Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-75Keith Palek III makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half70-75Michael Osei-Bonsu makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-75Michael Osei-Bonsu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-75Keith Palek III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-75Keith Palek III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-76Colin Porter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-77Colin Porter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-78Colin Porter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-78Tyrique Brooks makes 27-foot three point jumper (Michael Osei-Bonsu assists)
- 2nd Half76-79Colin Porter makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Liberty Flames, below favours Missouri State Bears.
Venue
- Liberty Arena (VA)Lynchburg, VA
- Attendance3991
- OfficialsRodrick Dixon, Chris Ford, R.B. Clyburn
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
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