Western Kentucky Dominates Liberty Flames in Upset Win
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 4:00 PM ET · Liberty Arena (VA)
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 94, Liberty Flames 73, 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 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Liberty Flames?
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers beat Liberty Flames 94-73 at Liberty Arena (VA) on February 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Liberty Flames?
Liberty Flames were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -340 (about 77% implied). The underdog won.
In a surprising turn of events, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defeated the Liberty Flames 94-73 in a decisive victory at Liberty Arena in Virginia. This result is particularly noteworthy given the Flames' impressive home record of 23-4 and their recent form, which had seen them win their last ten games. The Hilltoppers, with an away record of 16-11, came into the game with a mixed performance but had won their last three games, showcasing a resurgence in their play.
The Flames had been on a remarkable streak, boasting a perfect 10-0 record in their last ten games, with an average of 77.1 points scored per game and allowing 69.8 points. Their last five games reflected a strong performance, averaging 78.8 points while conceding 74.6. In contrast, the Hilltoppers had a more inconsistent record of 5-5 over their last ten games, averaging 72.9 points scored and 74.2 points allowed. However, they had shown signs of improvement recently, winning four of their last five games, which included a thrilling 88-87 victory over the Delaware Blue Hens just two days prior to this matchup.
Historically, the Flames had a slight edge in their head-to-head meetings with the Hilltoppers, holding a 2-1 record against them in their last three encounters. The most recent meeting before this game was on January 22, 2026, where Liberty claimed a 76-69 victory. However, the Hilltoppers had previously defeated Liberty 90-61 in March 2025, indicating that they were capable of strong performances against this opponent.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but both teams were expected to field their best players. The conditions for the game were standard for a late February evening, likely affecting the players' performance but not enough to hinder the Hilltoppers' impressive display.
The betting market had favored Liberty, with DraftKings setting the odds at LIB -7.5, suggesting that the Flames were expected to win by that margin. The total for the game was set at 147.5, reflecting expectations for a high-scoring contest. However, the Hilltoppers' performance clearly defied these expectations.
As the game progressed, Western Kentucky's offense was relentless, with standout plays including Terrion Murdix's long-range three-pointer and multiple driving layups from Ryan Myers. The Hilltoppers' ability to stretch the floor and maintain offensive pressure ultimately overwhelmed the Flames, who struggled to keep pace.
Overall, this game serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of college basketball, where even the most dominant teams can fall to an underdog on any given night. The Flames will need to regroup and refocus as they prepare for their next challenge, while the Hilltoppers will look to build on this significant victory.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | LIB -7.5 | 147.5 o -112 / u -108 | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers +270 · Liberty Flames -340 |
Leaders
- PointsColin Porter20Liberty Flames
- AssistsZach Cleveland5Liberty Flames
- ReboundsZach Cleveland4Liberty Flames
- PointsGrant Newell21Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
- AssistsTerrion Murdix5Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
- ReboundsGrant Newell8Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Recent form
Liberty Flames
Last 10: 10-0Streak W1077.1 scored · 69.8 allowed per game5-0 at home
- 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
- W67-51vs Delaware Blue HensJan 24
- W76-69at Western Kentucky HilltoppersJan 22
- W80-69vs UTEP MinersJan 17
- W73-71vs New Mexico State AggiesJan 15
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Last 10: 5-5Streak W372.9 scored · 74.2 allowed per game2-2 away
- W88-87at Delaware Blue HensFeb 19
- W82-80vs Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersFeb 15
- W80-70vs Florida International PanthersFeb 7
- L66-71vs Jacksonville State GamecocksFeb 6
- W65-60at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersJan 31
- L69-72at Kennesaw State OwlsJan 29
- L58-73at Sam Houston BearkatsJan 24
- L69-76vs Liberty FlamesJan 22
- L65-81vs Kennesaw State OwlsJan 17
- W87-72vs Missouri State BearsJan 15
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 | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | Liberty Flames |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 31-59 | 25-45 |
| Field goal % | 53 | 56 |
| Three-pointers | 10-21 | 6-21 |
| Three-point % | 48 | 29 |
| Free throws | 22-23 | 17-29 |
| Free throw % | 96 | 59 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 20 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 1 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 19 |
| Assists | 14 | 12 |
| Steals | 10 | 6 |
| Blocks | 1 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 21 | 6 |
| Fast-break points | 14 | 0 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 38 |
| Fouls | 24 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 21 | 8 |
| Lead changes | 11 | 11 |
| Time in front | 74 | 18 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half54-46LJ Hackman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-46LJ Hackman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-46LJ Hackman makes 24-foot three point jumper (Grant Newell assists)
- 2nd Half58-48JJ Harper makes layup (Zach Cleveland assists)
- 2nd Half59-48Teagan Moore makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-48Teagan Moore makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-50Zach Cleveland makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-50Grant Newell makes layup (Armelo Boone assists)
- 2nd Half62-53Kaden Metheny makes 25-foot three point jumper (Brett Decker Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half64-53Blaise Keita makes layup
- 2nd Half65-53Ryan Myers makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-53Ryan Myers makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-55Colin Porter makes driving layup
- 2nd Half69-55Teagan Moore makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half72-55Ryan Myers makes 23-foot three point jumper (Armelo Boone assists)
- 2nd Half72-56Zander Carter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-56Ryan Myers makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half74-57Josh Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-58Josh Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-61Colin Porter makes 27-foot three point jumper (JJ Harper assists)
- 2nd Half76-61Teagan Moore makes layup
- 2nd Half76-62Josh Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-62Grant Newell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-62Grant Newell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-63Colin Porter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-64Colin Porter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-64Grant Newell makes 4-foot dunk (Armelo Boone assists)
- 2nd Half80-66Brett Decker Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half83-66Ryan Myers makes 24-foot three point jumper (Grant Newell assists)
- 2nd Half83-68Colin Porter makes layup
- 2nd Half83-69Colin Porter makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half84-69Grant Newell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half85-69Grant Newell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half88-69Terrion Murdix makes 23-foot three point jumper (Grant Newell assists)
- 2nd Half88-72Kaden Metheny makes 32-foot three point jumper (JJ Harper assists)
- 2nd Half90-72Teagan Moore makes driving layup
- 2nd Half92-72Ryan Myers makes driving layup
- 2nd Half92-73Zander Carter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half93-73Cade Stinnett makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half94-73Cade Stinnett makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Liberty Flames, below favours Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
Venue
- Liberty Arena (VA)Lynchburg, VA
- Attendance3922
- OfficialsJames Curran, Erroll Lewis, Michael Wallace
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