Kaden Metheny scores 22 to lead Liberty past Jacksonville State 78-69
AP
Jan 04, 2026
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) Kaden Metheny scored 22 points to help Liberty Flames defeat Jacksonville State Gamecocks 78-69 on Sunday.
Metheny shot 7 for 13 (5 for 9 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Flames (11-3, 3-0 Conference USA). Brett Decker Jr. added 16 points and Colin Porter scored 13.
The Gamecocks (7-7, 2-1) were led in scoring by Emondrek Erkins-Ford, who finished with 24 points and two blocks. Jacksonville State also got 22 points from Anthony Bryant. Mostapha El Moutaouakkil had eight points and eight rebounds.
Porter's 3-pointer with 19:14 remaining in the second half gave Liberty the lead for good at 30-27.
---
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
JVST
Gamecocks
27
LIB
Flames
27
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Iaroslav Niagu vs. Zach Cleveland (Flames gains possession)
19:41
Colin Porter misses two point layup
19:39
Iaroslav Niagu defensive rebound
19:20
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil misses two point layup
19:18
Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
18:59
+2
Brett Decker Jr. makes two point layup (JJ Harper assists)
0-2
18:31
+2
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil makes two point layup
2-2
18:11
+3
Kaden Metheny makes three point jump shot (Zach Cleveland assists)
2-5
17:37
Jacoby Hill misses two point jump shot
17:35
Kaden Metheny defensive rebound
17:24
Iaroslav Niagu shooting foul (Zach Cleveland draws the foul)
17:24
Zach Cleveland misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:24
+1
Zach Cleveland makes regular free throw 2 of 2
2-6
17:02
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. misses three point jump shot
17:00
Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
16:55
Brett Decker Jr. misses three point jump shot
16:53
JJ Harper offensive rebound
16:48
Brett Decker Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Jacoby Hill steals)
16:47
Brett Decker Jr. personal foul (Jacoby Hill draws the foul)
16:32
AC Bryant turnover (lost ball)
16:11
Colin Porter misses three point jump shot
16:09
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil defensive rebound
15:51
+2
Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes two point layup
4-6
15:31
+3
Colin Porter makes three point jump shot (Zach Cleveland assists)
4-9
15:10
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil misses two point layup
15:10
Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
15:10
TV timeout
14:59
+2
Brett Decker Jr. makes two point layup (Zach Cleveland assists)
4-11
14:37
+2
Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes two point hook shot (Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. assists)
6-11
14:20
Colin Porter misses two point layup
14:18
Josh Smith offensive rebound
14:16
+2
Josh Smith makes two point layup
6-13
14:03
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil misses two point layup
14:01
Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
13:51
Brett Decker Jr. misses three point jump shot
13:49
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. defensive rebound
13:27
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil misses three point jump shot
13:25
Kaden Metheny defensive rebound
13:14
Emondrek Erkins-Ford shooting foul (Zach Cleveland draws the foul)
13:14
Zach Cleveland misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:14
Zach Cleveland misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:14
Iaroslav Niagu defensive rebound
12:50
Brett Decker Jr. shooting foul (Emondrek Erkins-Ford draws the foul)
12:50
+1
Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes regular free throw 1 of 2
7-13
12:50
+1
Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes regular free throw 2 of 2
8-13
12:37
Zander Yates misses three point jump shot
12:35
Gamecocks defensive rebound
12:23
+2
Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes two point layup (Iaroslav Niagu assists)
10-13
12:23
Zander Yates shooting foul (Emondrek Erkins-Ford draws the foul)
12:23
+1
Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes regular free throw 1 of 1
11-13
12:12
+3
Kaden Metheny makes three point jump shot (Colin Porter assists)
11-16
11:53
TV timeout
11:40
+3
AC Bryant makes three point jump shot (Emondrek Erkins-Ford assists)
14-16
11:04
Zander Yates misses two point jump shot
11:04
Flames offensive rebound
11:04
Flames turnover (shot clock violation)
10:48
+3
AC Bryant makes three point jump shot
17-16
10:37
Colin Porter turnover (lost ball) (Emondrek Erkins-Ford steals)
10:09
AC Bryant misses three point jump shot
10:07
Flames defensive rebound
9:57
Iaroslav Niagu blocks JJ Harper's two point layup
9:55
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. defensive rebound
9:32
Iaroslav Niagu misses two point layup
9:30
Jaye Nash offensive rebound
9:30
JJ Harper shooting foul (Jaye Nash draws the foul)
9:30
Jaye Nash misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:30
+1
Jaye Nash makes regular free throw 2 of 2
18-16
9:11
Colin Porter turnover (lost ball) (Jaye Nash steals)
9:00
+3
AC Bryant makes three point jump shot (Jaye Nash assists)
21-16
8:41
Zach Cleveland misses two point hook shot
8:39
AC Bryant defensive rebound
8:28
Jacoby Hill misses two point layup
8:26
Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
8:18
Brett Decker Jr. turnover (lost ball)
7:55
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil misses three point jump shot
7:53
Kaden Metheny defensive rebound
7:36
Jaye Nash personal foul
7:36
TV timeout
7:33
+2
JJ Harper makes two point dunk (Colin Porter assists)
21-18
7:13
Josh Smith personal foul
7:00
+2
Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes two point layup
23-18
6:41
Zach Cleveland misses two point layup
6:39
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. defensive rebound
6:11
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil misses two point layup
6:09
Emondrek Erkins-Ford offensive rebound
6:07
Emondrek Erkins-Ford misses two point layup
6:05
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil offensive rebound
6:02
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil misses two point layup
6:00
Josh Smith defensive rebound
5:49
Zach Cleveland turnover (lost ball)
5:18
AC Bryant misses three point jump shot
5:16
Iaroslav Niagu offensive rebound
5:02
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil misses two point layup
5:00
Josh Smith defensive rebound
4:55
Colin Porter misses three point jump shot
4:53
AC Bryant defensive rebound
4:34
+2
Jacoby Hill makes two point layup
25-18
4:09
+3
Kaden Metheny makes three point jump shot
25-21
3:46
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:44
Brett Decker Jr. defensive rebound
3:31
+3
Kaden Metheny makes three point jump shot (Brett Decker Jr. assists)
25-24
3:13
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. turnover (bad pass)
3:13
TV timeout
3:03
Jacoby Hill personal foul
2:59
Iaroslav Niagu blocks Josh Smith's two point layup
2:57
Jaye Nash defensive rebound
2:27
Jacoby Hill misses two point jump shot
2:25
Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
2:16
Kaden Metheny misses three point jump shot
2:13
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil defensive rebound
1:59
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil turnover (lost ball)
1:36
+3
Kaden Metheny makes three point jump shot (Zach Cleveland assists)
25-27
1:03
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil misses three point jump shot
1:01
Colin Porter defensive rebound
1:01
Jaye Nash personal foul (Colin Porter draws the foul)
0:38
Kaden Metheny turnover (lost ball) (Jacoby Hill steals)
0:32
JJ Harper personal foul
0:32
Colin Porter personal foul (AC Bryant draws the foul)
0:32
+1
AC Bryant makes regular free throw 1 of 2
26-27
0:32
+1
AC Bryant makes regular free throw 2 of 2
27-27
0:01
Zach Cleveland misses two point layup
0:00
Josh Smith offensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
JVST
Gamecocks
42
LIB
Flames
51
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:38
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil misses two point jump shot
19:36
Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
19:14
+3
Colin Porter makes three point jump shot (Zach Cleveland assists)
27-30
18:57
Jacoby Hill misses two point layup
18:55
Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
18:43
Kaden Metheny misses three point jump shot
18:41
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. defensive rebound
18:32
AC Bryant offensive foul
18:32
AC Bryant turnover (offensive foul)
18:22
Jacoby Hill personal foul
18:08
+2
Kaden Metheny makes two point layup
27-32
17:38
Zach Cleveland blocks Mostapha El Moutaouakkil's two point layup
17:36
Gamecocks offensive rebound
17:36
Gamecocks turnover (shot clock violation)
17:14
Jacoby Hill personal foul
17:05
Zach Cleveland misses two point jump shot
17:03
Iaroslav Niagu defensive rebound
16:51
Emondrek Erkins-Ford misses two point layup
16:49
Colin Porter defensive rebound
16:40
+2
Zach Cleveland makes two point dunk (Kaden Metheny assists)
27-34
16:13
+2
Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes two point jump shot
29-34
15:59
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. shooting foul
15:59
Ray Harper technical foul
15:59
TV timeout
15:59
+1
Colin Porter makes technical free throw 1 of 2
29-35
15:59
Colin Porter misses technical free throw 2 of 2
15:59
+1
Kaden Metheny makes regular free throw 1 of 3
29-36
15:59
+1
Kaden Metheny makes regular free throw 2 of 3
29-37
15:59
+1
Kaden Metheny makes regular free throw 3 of 3
29-38
15:44
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil turnover (lost ball)
15:26
AC Bryant personal foul
15:21
+2
Brett Decker Jr. makes two point layup (Zach Cleveland assists)
29-40
15:03
+2
AC Bryant makes two point layup (Jaye Nash assists)
31-40
15:03
Colin Porter shooting foul (AC Bryant draws the foul)
15:03
+1
AC Bryant makes regular free throw 1 of 1
32-40
14:44
+2
Kaden Metheny makes two point layup
32-42
14:27
AC Bryant misses three point jump shot
14:25
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil offensive rebound
14:23
+2
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil makes two point layup
34-42
14:04
Kaden Metheny misses three point jump shot
14:02
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil defensive rebound
13:48
Jacoby Hill misses two point layup
13:46
Brett Decker Jr. defensive rebound
13:38
Zach Cleveland misses two point layup
13:36
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil defensive rebound
13:31
JJ Harper blocks Jaye Nash's two point layup
13:29
Gamecocks offensive rebound
13:29
+2
Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes two point layup (Jaye Nash assists)
36-42
13:29
JJ Harper shooting foul (Emondrek Erkins-Ford draws the foul)
13:29
+1
Emondrek Erkins-Ford makes regular free throw 1 of 1
37-42
13:17
+2
Colin Porter makes two point layup
37-44
12:55
+3
AC Bryant makes three point jump shot (Jacoby Hill assists)
40-44
12:44
+2
Zach Cleveland makes two point layup (Colin Porter assists)
40-46
12:44
Emondrek Erkins-Ford shooting foul (Zach Cleveland draws the foul)
