NEWARK, Del. (Interstat) — Colin Porter scored 23 points to lead Liberty to a 75-69 victory over Delaware in a Conference USA men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Bob Carpenter Center. The Flames, who improved to 19-3, used a 46-point second half to pull away after trailing 30-29 at halftime. Porter keyed the effort, making 5 of 6 free throws in the final minute to seal the win. Justyn Fernandez led the Blue Hens (6-16) with 21 points. Liberty shot 11 for 27 from 3-point range and 18 for 20 from the free-throw line. Delaware was held to 39 second-half points despite shooting 51% from the field for the game. An announced crowd of 2,084 watched the Flames sweep the season series.

NEWARK, Del. (Interstat) — In a game defined by precision at the foul line and a decisive second-half surge, the Liberty Flames held off a persistent Delaware Blue Hens squad for a 75-69 victory in a Conference USA men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at the Bob Carpenter Center. The win improved Liberty to 19-3 overall and marked its second triumph over Delaware in 11 days. The Blue Hens fell to 6-16. The contest was a tale of two halves and, ultimately, a story of efficiency. Liberty, which trailed 30-29 at halftime, erupted for 46 points in the second half, fueled by a near-perfect performance from the free-throw line. The Flames converted 18 of their 20 attempts, a 90% clip that proved critical in a tight game. Delaware, by contrast, managed just 8 of 9 from the stripe. Colin Porter, Liberty’s 5-foot-10 guard from Ashland, Kentucky, led all scorers with 23 points, igniting the Flames’ second-half comeback. After a quiet first half, Porter found his rhythm, hitting key three-pointers and sinking crucial free throws down the stretch. His performance was a stark contrast to his recent outings, where he scored just 8 points in each of the previous two games. Delaware’s Justyn Fernandez, a 6-foot-5 guard from Richmond, Virginia, kept the Blue Hens in contention with a team-high 21 points, 4 assists, and a steal. Teammate Macon Emory, a 6-foot-8 forward from Devon, Pennsylvania, added 19 points, including five three-pointers. Christian Bliss, Delaware’s floor general from Queens, New York, contributed 15 points and a game-high 5 assists. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final minutes as Liberty sealed the win from the charity stripe. After Delaware closed to within four points following a Fernandez layup that made it 67-63 with just over two minutes remaining, the Flames’ offense stalled, committing turnovers on consecutive possessions. However, Delaware could not capitalize on the opportunities to cut further into the lead. Liberty then put the game away at the line. Porter was fouled on a jump shot with 21 seconds left and calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to 71-67. After a Delaware timeout, the Blue Hens’ Christian Bliss was called for an offensive foul, handing possession back to Liberty. Porter was again fouled and made both shots with 11 seconds remaining, pushing the advantage to 73-67. Following a quick Delaware basket, Porter returned to the line with one second left and iced the game with two more makes, accounting for six of Liberty’s final eight points from the foul line. Statistically, the game was remarkably even in several categories. Delaware shot slightly better from the field, 51% to Liberty’s 51.1%, and won the battle in the paint 28-24. Both teams grabbed only two offensive rebounds apiece. Liberty’s edge came from beyond the arc, where they hit 11 of 27 attempts compared to Delaware’s 9 of 24, and their superior free-throw shooting. Liberty’s Zach Cleveland, a 6-foot-7 forward from Bloomington, Illinois, facilitated the offense with a game-high 9 assists. Josh Smith provided a strong interior presence for the Flames, scoring 14 points on efficient 5-of-6 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the line. The game drew an attendance of 2,084 to the Bob Carpenter Center. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Liberty entered with a 91.1% probability to win. The Flames covered the pregame spread of -12, and the total score of 144 went over the posted over/under line of 133.5. Liberty will look to continue its winning ways when it hosts Missouri State on Saturday. Delaware will aim to regroup at home against Middle Tennessee, also on Saturday.

Preview: Liberty Looks to Extend Win Streak Against Struggling Delaware NEWARK, Del. (Interstat) — The Liberty Flames, one of the nation’s hottest teams, visit the struggling Delaware Blue Hens in a Conference USA men’s basketball matchup Wednesday afternoon at the Bob Carpenter Center. Liberty (18-3, 8-0 CUSA) carries a nine-game winning streak into Newark, having dominated conference play. The Flames are coming off an 81-65 road victory at Middle Tennessee last Thursday, fueled by a season-high 29 points from guard Kaden Metheny. Delaware (6-15, 1-7) seeks to halt a two-game skid and find consistency after a 55-70 loss at UTEP on Saturday. The Blue Hens’ lone conference win came against New Mexico State on Jan. 28. This is a rematch of a Jan. 24 meeting in Lynchburg, which Liberty won 67-51. In that game, the Flames’ defense held Delaware to 32.7% shooting from the field. Metheny, Liberty’s dynamic guard, is averaging 17.4 points over his last five games. His backcourt counterpart, Christian Bliss, has been a bright spot for Delaware, averaging 18.4 points in his last five outings, including a 23-point performance in the win over New Mexico State. The Flames have excelled on both ends, ranking among conference leaders in scoring margin and defensive efficiency during their streak. Delaware has struggled to close games, with five of its seven conference losses coming by single digits, including an overtime defeat. Liberty’s balanced attack features Metheny, forward Zach Cleveland (14 points, 9 assists vs. MTSU), and guard JJ Harper. Delaware will rely heavily on Bliss and forward Tyler Houser, who scored 15 points against UTEP. The game tips off at 7 p.m. EST. Liberty next hosts Missouri State on Saturday, while Delaware remains home to face Middle Tennessee.