LYNCHBURG, Va. (Interstat) — A pivotal early Conference USA men’s basketball matchup tips off Friday night as the Liberty Flames host the Kennesaw State Owls at the Vines Center.

Both teams enter the Jan. 2 contest with winning non-conference records and momentum from competitive early-season schedules. Liberty (9-3) carries a three-game winning streak, most recently edging Florida International 97-94 in overtime on the road Sunday. Kennesaw State (8-4) seeks to rebound from a narrow 67-68 loss at Middle Tennessee and a 92-81 defeat at Alabama in its last outing on Dec. 21.

The Flames are led by guard Kaden Metheny, who is coming off a season-high 41 minutes and 25 points in the overtime win at FIU. Over his last five games, Metheny is averaging 14.2 points and 4.4 assists, providing steady backcourt leadership. He will be supported by Brett Decker (27 points vs. FIU) and Colin Porter (16 points, 7 assists vs. FIU), who round out a potent offensive trio.

For the Owls, forward Frankquon Sherman presents a major challenge in the frontcourt. Sherman posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Alabama and is averaging 8.8 points and 5.3 rebounds over his last four contests. Guard Simeon Cottle, who scored 20 against the Crimson Tide, and forward Braedan Lue, who also had a double-double in that game, provide additional scoring and rebounding punch.

Historically, Liberty has dominated the series, but this meeting features two of the conference’s top early-season performers. The Flames’ offensive efficiency, ranking among league leaders, will be tested by a Kennesaw State team capable of high-scoring outputs, as seen in a 121-point performance earlier this month.

The game marks the conference opener for both squads and could have implications for the CUSA standings as the calendar turns to January. Liberty’s home-court advantage at the Vines Center, where they are 5-1 this season, contrasts with Kennesaw State’s 3-3 road record.

Following this contest, Liberty will host Jacksonville State on Sunday, while Kennesaw State travels to face Delaware.