All Things Sports Two-Week Newsletter Recap
- garretdjohnson16
- Feb 15
- 4 min read
Over the past two weekends, our team has been on the ground covering high-level collegiate competition and delivering in-depth media coverage from two exciting matchups. On February 7, we were courtside at the Liberty Flames men’s basketball game as Liberty hosted Missouri State. From pregame warmups through postgame, we captured the energy inside Liberty Arena, providing live coverage, photography, and postgame analysis to keep fans informed and engaged. Our focus remained on telling the full story of the night by highlighting key performances, momentum-shifting moments, and the atmosphere that makes Flames basketball special.
This past weekend, February 14, our coverage continued as we were on site for the Richmond Spiders vs. Virginia Cavaliers men’s lacrosse matchup. With early-season intensity on display, we documented the pace, physicality, and standout individual efforts from both programs. From field-level photography to game recaps and postgame insights, our mission remains the same: If its sports, it’s here.
Liberty Survives Thriller vs. Missouri State, 79-76 — Cleveland’s Triple-Double Fuels 14th Straight Win
By Walker Johnson
Feb 8, 2026, 8:04AM
LYNCHBURG, Va. — In a highly competitive Conference USA matchup Saturday afternoon at Liberty Arena, the Liberty Flames held off a late charge by the Missouri State Bears for a 79-76 victory, extending their winning streak to 14 games and remaining unbeaten in league play.
The Flames (20-3, 12-0 CUSA) were led by senior forward Zach Cleveland, who turned in a historic performance with the first triple-double of his career, finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists while shooting 8-of-13 from the field. His all-around effort provided the backbone for Liberty’s balanced offensive attack.
Flames Ignite Early, Rally to Answer Bears Runs
Liberty opened the game with energy, shooting efficiently in the first half and building a 42-38 lead at the break. The Flames shot an impressive 65.4% (17-of-26) in the opening frame, setting a tone of offensive precision that Missouri State struggled to counter early.
Senior guard Brett Decker Jr. paced Liberty’s scoring with 20 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line and finishing 6-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Off the bench, Josh Smith provided a spark with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and added two blocks, while Colin Portercontributed 10 second-half points and six assists to help steady the offense.
A decisive stretch came in the second half when Liberty exploded on a 22-2 run, breaking a 42-42 tie and extending the lead to 64-44 with 13:33 remaining. A powerful dunk by Cleveland punctuated the run and brought the Liberty Arena crowd to its feet.
Bears Mount Fierce Comeback
Missouri State (13-10, 7-5 CUSA) refused to go quietly. Forward Keith Palek III delivered a standout performance with 25 points and nine rebounds, while Michael Osei-Bonsu added 16 points and nine boards. Guard Kobi Williams chipped in 11 points, including a late three-pointer that cut the deficit to two with just 1.4 seconds remaining.
The Bears outscored Liberty 30-13 over the final 12 minutes, nearly completing a remarkable comeback after trailing by as many as 20 points in the second half. Missouri State also held advantages in rebounding (34-28), second-chance points (17-6), and bench points (21-15), keeping the Flames under constant pressure down the stretch.
Clutch Execution Seals It
With the game hanging in the balance, Liberty’s composure at the free-throw line proved decisive. Porter calmly split a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left to give Liberty a three-point cushion, and Missouri State’s final desperation attempt came up short, sealing the Flames’ victory.
Liberty finished the game shooting 55.1% from the field, while Missouri State connected on 48.2% of its attempts and knocked down 47.1% from three-point range in a valiant effort.
413’s Bottomline
The win keeps Liberty atop the Conference USA standings, extends its home winning streak, and further cements the Flames as one of the league’s most consistent and disciplined teams. Missouri State, despite the loss, showed resilience and fight that could pay dividends as conference play continues.
Liberty now stands at 20-3 overall, remains unbeaten in league play, and continues to build momentum as the postseason approaches by building a strong resume for the NCAA Tournament.
Spiders’ Offensive Outpouring Spins Web Around Cavaliers
RICHMOND, Va. — In a thrilling in-state battle, No. 8 Richmond used a powerful offensive strategy and dynamic execution to knock off No. 13 Virginia, 18–12, in front of an electric home crowd at Robins Stadium.
Offensive Horsepower
From the opening whistle, it was clear Richmond had come to compete. After a back-and-forth first quarter that ended tied 4–4, the Spiders struck just before the horn to ignite a decisive run. This would serve to be a stretch defining the game’s momentum. Richmond’s attack exploded for a 7–4 lead midway through the second quarter, highlighted by a dominant performance from two senior attackman, Aidan O’Neil and Joe Sheridan. O’ Neil finished with a game-high five goals, and Sheridan with four goals.
“We shot pretty well in the second half. We had longer possessions and I think that kind of buried them. If you’re already down a couple of goals and not seeing the ball as much as you want to that’s definitely frustrating and I think that played a big factor.”
— O’Neil, Richmond Spiders
Not Going Down Without a Fight
Despite the early pressure, Virginia didn’t go quietly. The Cavaliers battled back behind timely contributions from several scorers, including multiple goals from Brendan Millon, trimming the deficit to 15–12 late in the third quarter. Virginia’s offense flashed sparks in spurts, but turnovers and missed opportunities stalled their comeback bid.
413’s Bottomline
Richmond responded each time the Hoos threatened, using a balanced attack and strong transition game to stay in control. The Spiders closed the contest with three unanswered goals in the final stanza, sealing a signature win early in the season.
With this early season win, Richmond notches a statement home victory against a ranked ACC opponent that could keep their resume strong throughout the season. Virginia, while the season is still early, is searching for consistency and will look to regroup as the season progresses.
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