LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Zach Cleveland's 19 points helped Liberty defeat Sam Houston 79-72 on Saturday.
Cleveland also contributed nine rebounds and nine assists for the Flames (25-6, 17-3 Conference USA). Brett Decker Jr. added 16 points and five rebounds. Colin Porter shot 4 of 12 from the field to finish with 15 points.
Veljko Ilic finished with 21 points and two steals for the Bearkats (21-10, 13-7). Jacob Walker added 13 points for Sam Houston. Kashie Natt had 16 rebounds and 11 points.
Liberty led Sam Houston at the half, 41-31, with Cleveland (12 points) its high scorer before the break. Cleveland's layup with 1:39 left in the second half gave Liberty the lead for good at 70-68.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Top 25 college athletes with highest NIL valuations
Top 10 men's college basketball players with highest NIL valuations
What are the 10 most unbreakable records in sports?
Who Stayed? Who Left? And How It Shapes The 2026-27 College Basketball Season
Who are the 10 best Duke basketball players of all time?
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo and other notable college-NBA teammates
What if one-and-done always existed? Where Kobe, LeBron, more would have gone
Top 25 college athletes with highest NIL valuations
Top 10 men's college basketball players with highest NIL valuations
What are the 10 most unbreakable records in sports?
Who Stayed? Who Left? And How It Shapes The 2026-27 College Basketball Season
Who are the 10 best Duke basketball players of all time?
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo and other notable college-NBA teammates
What if one-and-done always existed? Where Kobe, LeBron, more would have gone
