Metheny, Peter lead Liberty to its first CUSA tourney title with 79-67 win over Jacksonville State

Liberty guard Jayvon Maughmer celebrates after a win in an NCAA college basketball game against Jacksonville State in the championship of the Conference USA tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Huntsville, Ala. Credit: AP/Vasha Hunt
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Kaden Metheny scored 21 points and Taelon Peter added 20, and top-seeded Liberty pulled away early in the second half to beat No. 2 seed Jacksonville State 79-67 on Saturday night for its first Conference USA Tournament title.
Liberty, in its second season as a member of CUSA, clinched its sixth NCAA Tournament berth in program history and its first since the Flames won the ASUN Conference Tournament in 2021.
Jacksonville State trailed 39-35 one minute into the second half before the Flames pulled away on a 26-10 run for its largest lead, 65-45, with 7:24 remaining. Metheny scored eight points and Peter scored seven during the stretch. Peter's dunk capped the Flames scoring with about a minute left.
Metheny shot 7 of 15 from the floor and 5 of 10 from long range. Peter was 7-of-7 shooting from the field that included three 3-pointers and was 3 of 4 from the foul line. Colin Porter added 13 points and Zach Cleveland had 10 for Liberty (28-6), which also made its second appearance in the CUSA title game.
Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 19 points to lead Jacksonville State (22-12). Marcellus Brigham Jr. scored all 12 of his points in the second half and Quel’Ron House chipped in with 11 points.
Metheny made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points in the first half to help Liberty build a 37-33 advantage. Pierre shot 6 of 12 and scored 16 first-half points to pace Jacksonville State.
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The Liberty bench cheers after a 3-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Jacksonville State in the championship of the Conference USA tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Huntsville, Ala. Credit: AP/Vasha Hunt
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