Liberty Flames Defeat Sam Houston Bearkats 79-72
Saturday, March 7, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Liberty Arena (VA)
Liberty Flames 79, Sam Houston Bearkats 72, 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 Sam Houston Bearkats vs Liberty Flames?
Liberty Flames beat Sam Houston Bearkats 79-72 at Liberty Arena (VA) on March 7, 2026.
Who was favored in Sam Houston Bearkats vs Liberty Flames?
Liberty Flames were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -218 (about 69% implied). The favorite won.
The Liberty Flames secured a victory against the Sam Houston Bearkats with a final score of 79-72. This matchup was notable as it featured two teams with solid records, Liberty finishing the season with a home record of 25-6 and Sam Houston at 21-10. The game took place at Liberty Arena in Virginia, where the Flames have been a formidable force.
In terms of recent form, Liberty entered the game with a record of 7-3 over their last ten outings, though they were on a one-game losing streak after falling to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 71-76 just a day prior. Their average scoring during this stretch was 76.5 points per game, while they allowed an average of 76.0 points. Notably, Liberty's performance at home has been mixed, with a home record of 2-2 in their last four games, and they averaged 76.0 points while allowing 82.2 points in their last five games.
On the other hand, Sam Houston had a strong record of 8-2 in their last ten games, although they were also coming off a loss, having been defeated by the Delaware Blue Hens 80-83. The Bearkats averaged 82.0 points scored and allowed 74.9 points during this recent stretch. Their away record was 2-2 in their last four games, with a more impressive last five games record of 4-1, averaging 85.2 points scored and 75.8 points allowed.
The two teams have faced each other three times in the recent past, with Liberty winning all three meetings. In their most recent encounter on January 10, 2026, Liberty emerged victorious with a score of 82-74. Their previous meetings in the 2025 season also saw Liberty winning 64-61 and 76-68.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any players missing from either team, indicating that both squads likely fielded their full rosters.
The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had Liberty favored by 4.5 points, with a moneyline of -218 for the Flames and +180 for the Bearkats. The total points over/under was set at 152.5, with both the over and under priced at -110.
The conditions for the game were not detailed, but the atmosphere at Liberty Arena typically favors the home team, contributing to their strong home record.
Viewers were treated to a competitive game where key moments included Colin Porter making crucial free throws and a significant three-point jumper that helped maintain Liberty's lead. The Flames' ability to execute down the stretch proved vital, as they managed to hold off a late charge from the Bearkats.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | LIB -4.5 | 152.5 o -110 / u -110 | Sam Houston Bearkats +180 · Liberty Flames -218 |
Leaders
- PointsZach Cleveland19Liberty Flames
- AssistsZach Cleveland9Liberty Flames
- ReboundsZach Cleveland9Liberty Flames
- PointsVeljko Ilic21Sam Houston Bearkats
- AssistsJacob Walker3Sam Houston Bearkats
- ReboundsKashie Natt16Sam Houston Bearkats
Recent form
Liberty Flames
Last 10: 7-3Streak L176.5 scored · 76 allowed per game2-2 at home
- 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
- W75-69at Delaware Blue HensFeb 5
- W81-65at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersJan 30
Sam Houston Bearkats
Last 10: 8-2Streak L182 scored · 74.9 allowed per game2-2 away
- L80-83at Delaware Blue HensMar 6
- W86-81vs Missouri State BearsFeb 28
- W100-67vs Florida International PanthersFeb 27
- W82-78vs Jacksonville State GamecocksFeb 21
- W78-70vs Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersFeb 19
- W83-79at Kennesaw State OwlsFeb 14
- L78-87at Louisiana Tech BulldogsFeb 7
- W70-66vs UTEP MinersFeb 5
- W83-67vs Louisiana Tech BulldogsFeb 1
- W80-71at Missouri State BearsJan 29
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 | Sam Houston Bearkats | Liberty Flames |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-62 | 28-55 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 51 |
| Three-pointers | 8-16 | 14-36 |
| Three-point % | 50 | 39 |
| Free throws | 8-15 | 9-11 |
| Free throw % | 53 | 82 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 30 |
| Offensive rebounds | 15 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 24 |
| Assists | 10 | 20 |
| Steals | 2 | 3 |
| Blocks | 0 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 5 | 6 |
| Fast-break points | 7 | 11 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 28 |
| Fouls | 13 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 17 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 3 | 83 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half31-38Kashie Natt makes free throw 1 of 1
- 1st Half31-41Brett Decker Jr. makes 30-foot three point jumper (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half33-41Kashie Natt makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half33-44Brett Decker Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Kaden Metheny assists)
- 2nd Half33-47Kaden Metheny makes 24-foot three point jumper (JJ Harper assists)
- 2nd Half33-50Brett Decker Jr. makes 25-foot three point jumper (Josh Smith assists)
- 2nd Half36-50Damon Nicholas Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half36-52Zach Cleveland makes driving layup
- 2nd Half39-52CJ Beaumont makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jacob Walker assists)
- 2nd Half39-55Kaden Metheny makes 24-foot three point jumper (Josh Smith assists)
- 2nd Half42-55Jacob Walker makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half42-57Kaden Metheny makes driving layup
- 2nd Half42-59Josh Smith makes layup (Kaden Metheny assists)
- 2nd Half45-59Kashie Natt makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jacob Walker assists)
- 2nd Half47-59Veljko Ilic makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half49-59Veljko Ilic makes layup (Kashie Natt assists)
- 2nd Half51-59Jacob Walker makes driving layup
- 2nd Half53-59Veljko Ilic makes layup
- 2nd Half53-62Zander Carter makes 24-foot three point jumper (Brett Decker Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half55-62Jacob Walker makes driving layup
- 2nd Half56-62Kashie Natt makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-62Veljko Ilic makes 7-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half58-65Zander Yates makes 26-foot three point jumper (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half61-65Damon Nicholas Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kashie Natt assists)
- 2nd Half64-65Jacobe Coleman makes 23-foot three point jumper (Damon Nicholas Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half64-67Zach Cleveland makes driving layup
- 2nd Half64-68Zach Cleveland makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-68Veljko Ilic makes layup
- 2nd Half68-68Jacobe Coleman makes layup
- 2nd Half68-70Zach Cleveland makes driving layup
- 2nd Half69-70Veljko Ilic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-71Colin Porter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-72Colin Porter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-75Colin Porter makes 24-foot three point jumper (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half70-75Jacob Walker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-76Brett Decker Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-77Brett Decker Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-77Damon Nicholas Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half72-78Colin Porter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-79Colin Porter makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Liberty Flames, below favours Sam Houston Bearkats.
Venue
- Liberty Arena (VA)Lynchburg, VA
- Attendance3523
- OfficialsKevin Mathis, Shane Land, Michael Wallace
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