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.

Watch as the No. 1 seed Liberty Flames (27-6, 13-5 CUSA) look to earn CUSA championship and a guaranteed spot in the NCAA Tournament bracket when they meet the No. 2 Jacksonville State Gamecocks

BOTTOM LINE: Liberty plays Middle Tennessee in the CUSA Championship. The Flames are 18-2 against CUSA opponents and 6-4 in non-conference play. Liberty scores 72.3 points and has outscored opponents by 12.0 points per game.

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Liberty did not have the greatest shooting performance, just 30 percent. But defensively they did enough to affect change while Bella Smuda and Emma Hess combined for 24 points. Smuda recorded a double-double, 10 and 13. The Flames built a 41-30 lead towards the end of the third quarter.

The top-seeded Liberty Flames (26-6, 13-5 CUSA) are taking on the No. 4 seed Kennesaw State Owls (19-13, 10-8 CUSA) in CUSA Tournament on Friday at Von Braun Center. Watch the matchup at 12:30

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