Cleveland has triple-double and Liberty beats Missouri State 79-76 for 14th straight win

Junior forward Zach Cleveland propelled the Liberty University Flames to a hard-fought 79-76 victory over the Missouri State Bears at the Great Southern Bank Arena on Saturday, securing the team's 14th consecutive win through a historic individual performance. In a high-stakes matchup that tested Liberty's momentum, Cleveland dominated the court by recording a triple-double, marking a pivotal moment in the Flames' season as they sought to maintain their standing at the top of the conference leaderboard. Cleveland's statistical line was nothing short of extraordinary, as he finished the night with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. Beyond his scoring output, his playmaking and defensive presence were the deciding factors in the narrow win; he hauled in 10 rebounds to anchor the glass and distributed 11 assists to keep the Flames' offense fluid. Despite struggling from the charity stripe, where he hit only 3 of 9 free-throw attempts, his overall efficiency and ability to affect every facet of the game proved too much for the Missouri State defense to neutralize. The 14-game winning streak represents one of the most significant runs in program history, highlighting the consistency and resilience of the Flames' roster. Missouri State remained competitive until the final buzzer, challenging the visitors in a back-and-forth contest that featured multiple lead changes. However, the synergy between Cleveland and his teammates allowed Liberty to execute in crunch time, neutralizing late-game surges from the Bears and preserving their unblemished record over the past several weeks of play. Looking ahead, this victory solidifies Liberty as a formidable force in collegiate basketball as they approach the postseason. The emergence of Cleveland as a triple-double threat adds a new layer of complexity to the Flames' scouting report, making them a difficult matchup for any opponent. As the team extends its winning streak to 14, the focus now shifts to maintaining this high level of play and managing the physical toll of a grueling schedule while pursuing a deep tournament run.