Liberty Flames vs App State Mountaineers
Appalachian State rallies to beat Liberty 73-62
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Frank Eaves scored 18 points and made 10 of 13 free throws, Ronshad Shabazz added 17 points, and Appalachian State rallied to beat Liberty 73-62 on Thursday in the opening round of the Challenge in Music City.
Trailing by one at halftime, Shabazz hit a jumper to put Appalachian State ahead 41-40, and the Mountaineers led by 11 with 4:50 left after Shabazz scored five straight points. Eaves hit two free throws for a 12-point lead with 33 seconds left and the Mountaineers held on.
Chris Burgess scored 12 points and Jacob Lawson 10 for Appalachian State (2-3), which made 29 of 36 free throws (81 percent) and outrebounded the Flames 34-23.
There were four ties and three lead changes before A.C Reid put Liberty on top 34-33 at halftime with a 3-pointer with two seconds left.
Anthony Fields and Lovell Cabbil each scored 15 for Liberty (3-2), with Cabbil hitting 3 of 4 3-pointers.
Game Information
Nashville, TN
Referee:Coy Gammon
Referee:Mike Grundman
Referee:Davis Maxwell
2025-26 Standings
| Sun Belt Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy | 12-6 | - | 22-12 |
| South Alabama | 11-7 | 1 | 21-12 |
| Arkansas State | 11-7 | 1 | 20-12 |
| Texas State | 11-7 | 1 | 19-13 |
| Marshall | 11-7 | 1 | 19-13 |
| Coastal Carolina | 11-7 | 1 | 19-13 |
| App State | 11-7 | 1 | 19-13 |
| James Madison | 9-9 | 3 | 18-15 |
| Southern Miss | 9-9 | 3 | 19-16 |
| Georgia Southern | 8-10 | 4 | 21-16 |
| Old Dominion | 7-11 | 5 | 12-21 |
| Louisiana | 7-11 | 5 | 11-22 |
| Georgia State | 7-11 | 5 | 10-22 |
| UL Monroe | 1-17 | 11 | 4-28 |
| Conference USA | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 17-3 | - | 26-8 |
| Sam Houston | 13-7 | 4 | 22-12 |
| Louisiana Tech | 11-9 | 6 | 20-14 |
| Western Kentucky | 11-9 | 6 | 18-14 |
| Middle Tennessee | 11-9 | 6 | 17-15 |
| Kennesaw State | 10-10 | 7 | 21-14 |
| Jacksonville State | 10-10 | 7 | 15-17 |
| New Mexico State | 8-12 | 9 | 16-16 |
| Missouri State | 8-12 | 9 | 16-18 |
| Florida International | 8-12 | 9 | 15-17 |
| UTEP | 7-13 | 10 | 11-20 |
| Delaware | 6-14 | 11 | 10-21 |
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