Liberty outlasts Florida International 97-94 in OT in Conference USA opener
AP
Dec 28, 2025
MIAMI (AP) Brett Decker Jr. had 27 points and Kaden Metheny scored seven of his 25 in overtime as Liberty Flames rallied to beat Florida International Panthers 97-94 on Sunday in a Conference USA opener.
Decker shot 9 of 18 from the field, including 5 for 11 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the free-throw line for the Flames (9-3, 1-0). Metheny made 8 of 15 from the floor, including 6 for 13 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line, adding six assists and three steals. Colin Porter went 5 of 12 from the field (4 for 10 from 3-point range) to finish with 16 points.
Eric Dibami led the way for the Panthers (7-5, 0-1) with 21 points and nine rebounds. Corey Stephenson added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Larry Olayinka finished with 16 points and six rebounds.
Metheny led Liberty with 13 second-half points and Josh Smith hit the game-tying layup with eight seconds remaining in the second half to send the game to overtime tied at 82-all. Metheny scored his seven the overtime points while going 2 of 2 from the field.
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1st Half
LIB
Flames
41
FIU
Panthers
33
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Panthers gains possession)
19:45
Kaden Metheny personal foul
19:30
Corey Stephenson turnover (JJ Harper steals)
19:22
JJ Harper misses two point layup
19:20
Corey Stephenson defensive rebound
19:15
+2
Hamed Olayinka makes two point jump shot
0-2
18:42
+3
Colin Porter makes three point jump shot
3-2
18:27
Hamed Olayinka misses two point jump shot
18:27
Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
18:27
Hamed Olayinka personal foul
18:13
Brett Decker Jr. misses two point jump shot
18:11
Corey Stephenson defensive rebound
18:05
Corey Stephenson turnover (Kaden Metheny steals)
17:50
+3
Brett Decker Jr. makes three point jump shot (Kaden Metheny assists)
6-2
17:35
JJ Harper shooting foul (Corey Stephenson draws the foul)
17:35
+1
Corey Stephenson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
6-3
17:35
+1
Corey Stephenson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
6-4
17:27
Colin Porter turnover (Zawdie Jackson steals)
17:23
+2
Zawdie Jackson makes two point layup
6-6
17:03
+2
Brett Decker Jr. makes two point layup
8-6
16:55
Hamed Olayinka misses two point layup
16:53
Eric Dibami offensive rebound
16:53
+2
Eric Dibami makes two point jump shot
8-8
16:34
Colin Porter misses three point jump shot
16:32
Corey Stephenson defensive rebound
16:21
+2
Corey Stephenson makes two point layup
8-10
15:56
Colin Porter misses three point jump shot
15:54
Ibrahim Olajuwon defensive rebound
15:46
Julian Mackey turnover
15:46
TV timeout
15:33
Kaden Metheny misses three point jump shot
15:31
Julian Mackey defensive rebound
15:13
+2
Eric Dibami makes two point jump shot (Zawdie Jackson assists)
8-12
14:52
+3
Brett Decker Jr. makes three point jump shot (Kaden Metheny assists)
11-12
14:28
+2
Eric Dibami makes two point hook shot (Zawdie Jackson assists)
11-14
14:11
Kaden Metheny misses three point jump shot
14:09
Flames offensive rebound
13:57
Corey Stephenson shooting foul (Zander Carter draws the foul)
13:57
Zander Carter misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:57
Zander Carter misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:57
JJ Harper offensive rebound
13:46
Brett Decker Jr. misses three point jump shot
13:44
Julian Mackey defensive rebound
13:22
Ibrahim Olajuwon misses two point layup
13:20
Josh Smith defensive rebound
13:06
Zander Carter turnover
12:53
Corey Stephenson turnover
12:40
+2
Brett Decker Jr. makes two point jump shot
13-14
12:33
Corey Stephenson misses two point layup
12:31
Panthers offensive rebound
12:28
Julian Mackey misses three point jump shot
12:26
Brett Decker Jr. defensive rebound
12:03
Brett Decker Jr. misses three point jump shot
12:01
Josh Smith offensive rebound
12:01
Hamed Olayinka personal foul
11:56
+2
Colin Porter makes two point layup (Zach Cleveland assists)
15-14
11:40
JJ Harper personal foul
11:40
TV timeout
11:21
+3
Corey Stephenson makes three point jump shot (Julian Mackey assists)
15-17
10:48
Colin Porter misses three point jump shot
10:46
Zander Yates offensive rebound
10:39
Brett Decker Jr. turnover (Corey Stephenson steals)
10:33
Brit Harris misses three point jump shot
10:31
Corey Stephenson offensive rebound
10:28
Zander Yates shooting foul (Eric Dibami draws the foul)
10:28
+1
Eric Dibami makes regular free throw 1 of 2
15-18
10:28
+1
Eric Dibami makes regular free throw 2 of 2
15-19
10:12
+2
Zach Cleveland makes two point dunk (Colin Porter assists)
17-19
9:59
+2
Brit Harris makes two point layup
17-21
9:30
Zander Yates misses three point jump shot
9:28
Zawdie Jackson defensive rebound
9:14
Ashton Williamson misses three point jump shot
9:12
Corey Stephenson offensive rebound
9:10
Brit Harris misses three point jump shot
9:08
Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
8:53
+2
Zach Cleveland makes two point hook shot
19-21
8:32
+2
Eric Dibami makes two point layup
19-23
8:12
Kaden Metheny misses three point jump shot
8:10
Zawdie Jackson defensive rebound
8:00
Zawdie Jackson turnover (Kaden Metheny steals)
7:58
Zawdie Jackson personal foul
7:58
TV timeout
7:44
+3
Colin Porter makes three point jump shot (Kaden Metheny assists)
22-23
7:33
Eric Dibami misses two point layup
7:31
Kaden Metheny defensive rebound
7:05
+3
Colin Porter makes three point jump shot (Kaden Metheny assists)
25-23
6:52
Ashton Williamson turnover (Colin Porter steals)
6:47
Ashton Williamson blocks Colin Porter's two point layup
6:45
Flames offensive rebound
6:39
Zach Cleveland turnover
6:27
Zawdie Jackson misses two point layup
6:25
Colin Porter defensive rebound
6:16
Brett Decker Jr. misses three point jump shot
6:14
Corey Stephenson defensive rebound
6:05
Corey Stephenson misses two point layup
6:03
Josh Smith defensive rebound
5:53
+2
Brett Decker Jr. makes two point layup (Josh Smith assists)
27-23
5:43
Ashton Williamson misses two point layup
5:41
Zander Carter defensive rebound
5:25
+2
Josh Smith makes two point layup
29-23
5:15
Zach Cleveland blocks Corey Stephenson's two point layup
5:13
Zawdie Jackson offensive rebound
5:03
+2
Eric Dibami makes two point jump shot (Ashton Williamson assists)
29-25
4:35
+2
Zach Cleveland makes two point layup
31-25
4:25
Corey Stephenson turnover
4:04
Flames turnover (shot clock violation)
3:54
Zander Yates shooting foul
3:54
TV timeout
3:54
+1
Ibrahim Olajuwon makes regular free throw 1 of 2
31-26
3:54
+1
Ibrahim Olajuwon makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-27
3:34
Brett Decker Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:32
Julian Mackey defensive rebound
3:25
+2
Julian Mackey makes two point jump shot
31-29
3:07
+3
Brett Decker Jr. makes three point jump shot (Zach Cleveland assists)
34-29
2:53
Julian Mackey misses three point jump shot
2:51
Josh Smith defensive rebound
2:37
Ibrahim Olajuwon personal foul
2:29
Zach Cleveland turnover (Julian Mackey steals)
2:24
Julian Mackey turnover (Zach Cleveland steals)
2:09
Kaden Metheny turnover (Ibrahim Olajuwon steals)
1:55
+2
Ibrahim Olajuwon makes two point jump shot (Julian Mackey assists)
34-31
1:42
Ibrahim Olajuwon personal foul
1:28
+2
Kaden Metheny makes two point layup
36-31
0:59
TJ Drain blocks Eric Dibami's two point layup
0:57
Flames defensive rebound
0:43
+3
Kaden Metheny makes three point jump shot (Colin Porter assists)
39-31
0:43
Ibrahim Olajuwon shooting foul
0:43
TJ Drain misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:43
Brit Harris defensive rebound
0:40
Panthers 30 second timeout
0:32
Josh Smith personal foul
0:19
Corey Stephenson misses two point layup
0:17
Eric Dibami offensive rebound
0:14
+2
Eric Dibami makes two point jump shot
39-33
0:02
+2
Zach Cleveland makes two point dunk (Colin Porter assists)
41-33
0:01
Corey Stephenson turnover
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
LIB
Flames
41
FIU
Panthers
49
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:37
+2
Hamed Olayinka makes two point jump shot (Ashton Williamson assists)
41-35
19:20
Colin Porter turnover (Hamed Olayinka steals)
19:20
+2
Hamed Olayinka makes two point layup
41-37
19:20
JJ Harper shooting foul (Hamed Olayinka draws the foul)
19:20
+1
Hamed Olayinka makes regular free throw 1 of 1
41-38
18:49
+3
Kaden Metheny makes three point jump shot (Colin Porter assists)
44-38
18:34
Ashton Williamson misses two point jump shot
18:32
Ibrahim Olajuwon offensive rebound
18:29
+2
Ibrahim Olajuwon makes two point layup
44-40
18:13
JJ Harper misses three point jump shot
18:11
Ibrahim Olajuwon defensive rebound
17:44
+2
Ashton Williamson makes two point layup
44-42
17:36
Kaden Metheny misses three point jump shot
17:34
Zawdie Jackson defensive rebound
17:22
+2
Ibrahim Olajuwon makes two point layup (Zawdie Jackson assists)
44-44
17:01
Kaden Metheny misses three point jump shot
16:59
Corey Stephenson defensive rebound
16:47
Zawdie Jackson misses three point jump shot
16:47
JJ Harper defensive rebound
16:47
Eric Dibami personal foul
16:34
Hamed Olayinka blocks Zach Cleveland's two point layup
16:32
Eric Dibami defensive rebound
16:13
Hamed Olayinka turnover (Kaden Metheny steals)
15:56
+3
Colin Porter makes three point jump shot (Kaden Metheny assists)
47-44
15:53
TV timeout
15:29
+2
Ashton Williamson makes two point jump shot
47-46
15:09
Josh Smith misses three point jump shot
15:07
Hamed Olayinka defensive rebound
14:51
Eric Dibami misses two point layup
14:49
Josh Smith defensive rebound
14:42
Brett Decker Jr. misses two point jump shot
14:40
Eric Dibami defensive rebound
14:40
Josh Smith personal foul
14:26
Corey Stephenson misses two point layup
14:24
Hamed Olayinka offensive rebound
14:22
Hamed Olayinka misses two point jump shot
14:20
Eric Dibami offensive rebound
14:16
+2
Hamed Olayinka makes two point jump shot
47-48
14:16
Ashton Williamson misses two point jump shot
14:14
Hamed Olayinka offensive rebound
13:50
+2
Josh Smith makes two point layup (Colin Porter assists)
49-48
13:40
Josh Smith personal foul
13:23
Hamed Olayinka misses two point layup
13:23
Hamed Olayinka offensive rebound
13:23
+2
Hamed Olayinka makes two point jump shot
49-50
13:23
Colin Porter shooting foul (Hamed Olayinka draws the foul)
13:23
Hamed Olayinka misses regular free throw 1 of 1
13:23
Eric Dibami offensive rebound
13:17
Brit Harris misses three point bank jump shot
13:15
JJ Harper defensive rebound
13:04
Colin Porter misses three point jump shot
13:02
Eric Dibami defensive rebound
12:48
Julian Mackey misses two point layup
12:46
Hamed Olayinka offensive rebound
12:42
+2
Hamed Olayinka makes two point layup
49-52
12:27
Zach Cleveland misses two point layup
12:25
TJ Drain offensive rebound
12:25
+2
TJ Drain makes two point jump shot
51-52
12:06
Brit Harris misses two point layup
12:04
Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
12:04
Ibrahim Olajuwon personal foul
11:50
Ryan Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot
11:48
Thiago Sucatzky defensive rebound
11:31
+3
Thiago Sucatzky makes three point jump shot (Hamed Olayinka assists)
51-55
11:17
Hamed Olayinka personal foul
11:17
TV timeout
11:06
Colin Porter misses three point jump shot
11:04
Colin Porter offensive rebound
11:00
Ryan Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot
10:58
Julian Mackey defensive rebound
10:30
+3
Thiago Sucatzky makes three point jump shot
51-58
10:04
JJ Harper misses three point jump shot
10:02
Flames offensive rebound
9:53
+2
Kaden Metheny makes two point layup
53-58
9:41
+2
Julian Mackey makes two point layup (Corey Stephenson assists)
53-60
9:31
Corey Stephenson personal foul
9:27
+2
JJ Harper makes two point layup
55-60
9:11
JJ Harper blocks Brit Harris's two point layup
9:09
Brit Harris offensive rebound
9:04
+3
Corey Stephenson makes three point jump shot (Julian Mackey assists)
55-63
8:53
+2
Zach Cleveland makes two point layup
57-63
8:33
Julian Mackey misses two point layup
8:31
Brett Decker Jr. defensive rebound
8:25
+2
Josh Smith makes two point layup
59-63
8:25
Brit Harris shooting foul (Josh Smith draws the foul)
8:25
+1
Josh Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 1
60-63
8:13
JJ Harper shooting foul
8:13
+1
Brit Harris makes regular free throw 1 of 3
60-64
8:13
Brit Harris misses regular free throw 2 of 3
8:13
Brit Harris misses regular free throw 3 of 3
8:13
Corey Stephenson offensive rebound
8:11
+2
Corey Stephenson makes two point layup
60-66
7:57
+3
Brett Decker Jr. makes three point jump shot (Josh Smith assists)
63-66
7:41
+2
Corey Stephenson makes two point layup (Hamed Olayinka assists)
63-68
7:15
+3
Brett Decker Jr. makes three point jump shot (Kaden Metheny assists)
66-68
6:59
+2
Brit Harris makes two point jump shot
66-70
6:43
Brett Decker Jr. misses three point jump shot
6:41
Josh Smith offensive rebound
6:41
Hamed Olayinka personal foul
6:41
TV timeout
6:25
+3
Kaden Metheny makes three point jump shot (Brett Decker Jr. assists)
69-70
5:55
+2
Eric Dibami makes two point layup
69-72
5:36
+2
Brett Decker Jr. makes two point dunk (Zach Cleveland assists)
71-72
5:10
Eric Dibami misses two point hook shot
5:08
Corey Stephenson offensive rebound
5:03
Brit Harris misses two point jump shot
5:01
Flames defensive rebound
4:48
Zach Cleveland turnover (Zawdie Jackson steals)
4:40
Zach Cleveland shooting foul
4:40
Hamed Olayinka misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:40
+1
Hamed Olayinka makes regular free throw 2 of 2
71-73
4:24
+2
JJ Harper makes two point hook shot (Zach Cleveland assists)
73-73
3:59
Colin Porter shooting foul
3:59
TV timeout
3:59
+1
Zawdie Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
73-74
3:59
+1
Zawdie Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
73-75
3:36
+3
Kaden Metheny makes three point jump shot (Colin Porter assists)
76-75
3:16
Corey Stephenson misses three point jump shot
3:14
Hamed Olayinka offensive rebound
3:09
JJ Harper shooting foul
3:09
+1
Hamed Olayinka makes regular free throw 1 of 2
76-76
3:09
+1
Hamed Olayinka makes regular free throw 2 of 2
76-77
2:52
Hamed Olayinka personal foul (Kaden Metheny draws the foul)
2:52
+1
Kaden Metheny makes regular free throw 1 of 2
77-77
2:52
+1
Kaden Metheny makes regular free throw 2 of 2
78-77
2:40
Colin Porter shooting foul (Zawdie Jackson draws the foul)
2:40
Zawdie Jackson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:40
+1
Zawdie Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
78-78
2:19
Kaden Metheny turnover
2:05
Josh Smith shooting foul
2:05
Zawdie Jackson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:05
+1
Zawdie Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
78-79
1:51
Zach Cleveland misses two point layup
1:49
Josh Smith offensive rebound
1:49
+2
Josh Smith makes two point jump shot
80-79
1:49
Flames 30 second timeout
1:49
TV timeout
1:34
+2
Zawdie Jackson makes two point layup
80-81
1:07
Kaden Metheny misses three point jump shot
1:05
Zawdie Jackson defensive rebound
0:41
Zawdie Jackson misses three point jump shot
0:39
Brett Decker Jr. defensive rebound
0:23
Kaden Metheny misses three point jump shot
0:21
Eric Dibami defensive rebound
0:21
Zach Cleveland personal foul
0:21
+1
Eric Dibami makes regular free throw 1 of 2
80-82
0:21
Eric Dibami misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:21
Colin Porter defensive rebound
0:08
+2
Josh Smith makes two point layup (Zach Cleveland assists)
82-82
0:02
Eric Dibami misses two point layup
0:00
Corey Stephenson offensive rebound
0:00
End of period
OT
LIB
Flames
15
FIU
Panthers
12
Time
Team
Play
Score
0:00
(Panthers gains possession)
4:48
+2
Zawdie Jackson makes two point layup
82-84
4:20
Colin Porter misses three point jump shot
4:18
Julian Mackey defensive rebound
3:57
Julian Mackey turnover
3:45
Zawdie Jackson personal foul (Josh Smith draws the foul)
3:45
+1
Josh Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2
83-84
3:45
+1
Josh Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2
84-84
3:27
Corey Stephenson misses three point jump shot
3:25
Josh Smith defensive rebound
3:19
Corey Stephenson shooting foul (Brett Decker Jr. draws the foul)
3:19
+1
Brett Decker Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
85-84
3:19
+1
Brett Decker Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
86-84
3:02
+2
Eric Dibami makes two point layup
86-86
2:42
+3
Kaden Metheny makes three point jump shot (Colin Porter assists)
89-86
2:38
Flames 30 second timeout
2:23
Josh Smith blocks Julian Mackey's two point layup
2:21
Corey Stephenson offensive rebound
2:18
Corey Stephenson misses two point layup
2:16
Eric Dibami offensive rebound
2:14
+2
Eric Dibami makes two point jump shot
89-88
1:47
Brett Decker Jr. misses three point jump shot
1:45
Zawdie Jackson defensive rebound
1:39
+3
Zawdie Jackson makes three point jump shot
89-91
1:06
+3
Kaden Metheny makes three point jump shot (Brett Decker Jr. assists)
92-91
1:06
Flames 30 second timeout
1:00
Eric Dibami offensive foul
1:00
Eric Dibami turnover (offensive foul)
0:47
Brett Decker Jr. misses two point layup
0:45
Josh Smith offensive rebound
0:45
Josh Smith misses two point jump shot
0:43
Julian Mackey defensive rebound
0:29
Eric Dibami turnover (Zach Cleveland steals)
0:28
Julian Mackey personal foul (Colin Porter draws the foul)
0:28
+1
Colin Porter makes regular free throw 1 of 2
93-91
0:28
Panthers 30 second timeout
0:28
+1
Colin Porter makes regular free throw 2 of 2
94-91
0:15
Julian Mackey misses three point jump shot
0:13
Kaden Metheny defensive rebound
0:09
Julian Mackey personal foul (Kaden Metheny draws the foul)
0:09
Kaden Metheny misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:09
+1
Kaden Metheny makes regular free throw 2 of 2
95-91
0:03
+3
Corey Stephenson makes three point jump shot (Zawdie Jackson assists)
