LYNCHBURG, Va. (Interstat) — In a commanding display of offensive firepower and defensive intensity, the Liberty Flames remained undefeated Sunday, overpowering the Florida Atlantic Owls by a score of eighty-eight to sixty-eight in a non-conference men’s NCAA Division I basketball game at the Vines Center.

A raucous home crowd of 3,722 watched as the Flames improved their season record to three wins and zero losses, while the Owls, coming off a road victory just one night prior, fell to two wins and one loss.

The game was effectively decided in a dominant first-half performance by the home team. Liberty erupted for forty-eight points before halftime, building an eighteen-point lead that the Owls would never seriously threaten. Florida Atlantic managed thirty points in the opening period but struggled to contain Liberty’s balanced and efficient attack. The Flames’ offensive outburst set a formidable tone, and while the Owls scored thirty-eight points in the second half to Liberty’s forty, the deficit was simply too large to overcome.

Liberty’s victory was a product of superior execution on both ends of the floor. The Flames’ shooting percentages from the floor, three-point range, and the free throw line all significantly outpaced those of the visiting Owls. This sharp-shooting performance fueled an offense that operated with precision and poise throughout the contest.

The teams battled to a near stalemate in the paint, with Liberty holding a slight thirty-eight to thirty-six advantage. However, the Flames’ ability to capitalize on opportunities and control the game’s tempo proved decisive. Florida Atlantic managed to score thirteen points off turnovers, just one more than Liberty’s twelve, and the Owls also held a substantial edge in fastbreak points, eleven to two. Yet, these advantages were negated by Liberty’s overwhelming success in their half-court offensive sets.

The win extends Liberty’s strong start to the 2025-26 season, following decisive victories over Kentucky Christian and College of Charleston. The Flames have now won each of their first three games by double-digit margins, establishing themselves as a formidable force in the early going.

For Florida Atlantic, the loss halts the momentum from a promising start. The Owls opened their season with an overtime win against Boston College and followed it with a convincing road win at College of Charleston on Saturday. The back-to-back road games, however, seemed to take a toll, as the Owls could not match Liberty’s energy and execution on Sunday.

The game’s outcome aligned with pregame expectations, though the margin of victory was wider than projected. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Liberty entered the contest with a 72.10 percent probability to win. The Flames had also been installed as pregame favorites with a point spread of -5.5, a line they covered comfortably with the twenty-point win. The total combined score of one hundred fifty-six points fell under the over/under line of 150.5, indicating a higher-scoring affair than oddsmakers had anticipated.

Liberty’s schedule continues with a home game against CarolinaU on Monday, November 17. The Flames will then travel to Kissimmee, Florida, to face Vermont on November 24 as part of a multi-team event. Key tests await in December, including a road game against North Carolina State on December 10 and a visit to Dayton on December 20.

Florida Atlantic, meanwhile, has a lengthier break before its next contest. The Owls do not play again until Monday, November 24, when they face Loyola Marymount in a neutral-site game in Daytona Beach, Florida. Their schedule resumes in earnest in December, with a road game at Florida Gulf Coast on December 7 followed by a home contest against Albany on December 13.

The victory at the Vines Center provides Liberty with significant momentum as they look ahead to the heart of their non-conference schedule. The Flames demonstrated a potent combination of scoring depth and defensive resolve, a formula that has served them well through the first week of the young season. For Florida Atlantic, the game serves as a learning experience, highlighting areas for improvement as they prepare for a challenging slate of upcoming games, including conference play in the American Athletic Conference beginning in January.