RUSTON, La. (Interstat) — Liberty never trailed Thursday night, leading wire-to-wire for a 72-56 men’s basketball victory over Louisiana Tech at the Thomas Assembly Center. The Flames built a 34-27 halftime lead and maintained control throughout the second half. Liberty’s efficient offense, posting a 118.8 rating, outpaced the Bulldogs’ struggling attack. Brett Decker led Liberty with 15 points, while Zach Cleveland added 10 points and eight assists. DJ Dudley scored 17 points for Louisiana Tech. Liberty improved to 12-3 overall. Louisiana Tech fell to 8-7. An announced crowd of 2,373 attended the Conference USA game.

RUSTON, La. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and offensive efficiency, the Liberty Flames methodically dismantled the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 72-56 in a Conference USA men’s basketball matchup Thursday night at the Thomas Assembly Center. The Flames, improving to 12-3 overall, never trailed after the opening minute and used a stifling defensive performance to hold the Bulldogs to 35% shooting from the field. Liberty’s offense, while not flashy, was ruthlessly effective, scoring 72 points on just 61 possessions for an offensive rating of 118.8. Louisiana Tech, falling to 8-7, managed only 56 points on 63 possessions, an offensive rating of 88.6, and connected on just 5 of 11 free throws. The most critical stretch of the game came not in a singular, explosive run, but in a sustained first-half effort that established a template Liberty would follow for the full 40 minutes. After Louisiana Tech’s Sir Issac Herron opened the scoring with a dunk, Liberty’s Brett Decker answered with a 3-pointer, assisted by Zach Cleveland, to put the Flames ahead for good. What followed was a clinic in converting defense into offense. With the score 6-4, Liberty’s defense triggered a decisive 11-0 surge. It began with Cleveland stealing a pass from AJ Bates and converting a layup. On the ensuing possession, Colin Porter stole the ball from Kaden Cooper, leading to free throws. After a defensive stop, Decker scored again inside. The run was capped by Cleveland, who grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed 3-pointer and sank a jumper to push the lead to 17-6. This sequence exemplified the game’s core narrative: Liberty’s active hands, disciplined positioning, and ability to capitalize on every Louisiana Tech mistake. The Bulldogs struggled to find any consistent rhythm. While DJ Dudley led all scorers with 17 points, Louisiana Tech’s offense was plagued by missed shots near the rim and a failure to challenge Liberty’s interior defense effectively. The Flames blocked five shots and altered countless others, holding a 28-18 advantage in points in the paint. Liberty also outscored Louisiana Tech 12-7 off turnovers, highlighting their opportunistic play. Liberty led 34-27 at halftime and systematically extended the advantage after the break. Any attempt by the Bulldogs to generate momentum was swiftly countered. When Louisiana Tech cut the deficit to nine points early in the second half, Liberty responded with a 7-0 spurt, featuring a 3-pointer from Kaden Metheny and a layup from Colin Porter, to push the lead back to 16 and effectively seal the contest. Zach Cleveland of Liberty was the game’s most impactful player, filling the stat sheet with 10 points, eight assists, two blocks and a steal in 35 minutes, orchestrating the offense and anchoring the defense. Brett Decker led the Flames with 15 points, while JJ Harper added 13 points and two blocks. Kaden Metheny contributed 11 points. For Louisiana Tech, only Dudley reached double figures. Scooter Williams added nine points and three assists. Liberty’s balanced scoring attack saw five players score eight or more points. The Flames shot 46.3% from the field and 81.3% from the free-throw line, while Louisiana Tech shot just 35% overall. Both teams made nine 3-pointers, but Liberty’s superior work inside and at the charity stripe proved decisive. The announced attendance was 2,373. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Liberty entered with a 71.2% probability to win. The Flames covered the pregame spread of -5. The total score of 128 fell under the over/under line of 133. Liberty, which has won three straight conference games, next travels to face Sam Houston on Saturday. Louisiana Tech will look to rebound at home against Delaware on Saturday.

RUSTON, La. (Interstat) — A surging Liberty squad aims to continue its strong start to Conference USA play when it visits a reeling Louisiana Tech team on Thursday night at the Thomas Assembly Center. The Flames (11-3, 2-0 CUSA) have won five straight, including their first two conference games, and are coming off a 78-69 home win over Jacksonville State on Sunday. Liberty’s versatile forward Zach Cleveland recorded a double-double in that victory with 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Over the last five games, Cleveland is averaging 11.4 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds, providing critical all-around production. The Bulldogs (8-6, 0-2), meanwhile, look to halt a three-game skid and avoid an 0-3 conference start. They are coming off a 66-61 loss at Western Kentucky, where Kaden Cooper grabbed 13 rebounds. Cooper’s play will be key for Louisiana Tech; he posted 24 points and 13 rebounds in a dominant non-conference win over Dallas Christian on Dec. 22 but was held scoreless in just 17 minutes during a lopsided 88-51 loss at Middle Tennessee last Friday. Liberta’s success has been built on efficient offense and resilience, winning close games at Dayton and in overtime at Florida International during its current streak. Louisiana Tech has struggled offensively in its two CUSA losses, averaging just 56 points. The Flames won both meetings last season. Thursday’s contest is the first of two regular-season matchups between the programs this season. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. EST. Liberty travels to face Sam Houston on Saturday, while Louisiana Tech hosts Delaware.