HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — Zach Cleveland delivered a dominant all-around performance, scoring 23 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out 10 assists to lead Liberty to an 82-74 victory over Sam Houston in a Conference USA men’s basketball game Saturday at Johnson Coliseum.

The Flames (13-3, 4-0 CUSA) won their fifth straight game by overcoming a gritty effort from the Bearkats (9-7, 1-3) in front of a crowd of 1,170. The game was a tale of efficiency, as Liberty made the most of its possessions while Sam Houston struggled to convert opportunities.

Liberty built its victory on a foundation of superior shooting and ball security. The Flames connected on 56.9% of their field goal attempts, including a decisive 42 points in the paint. They were also efficient from the free throw line, making 18 of 23 attempts. Sam Houston, by contrast, shot 43.5% from the floor and committed 16 turnovers, which Liberty converted into 19 points.

The most critical phase of the game came early in the second half. Leading by just a single point at halftime, 34-33, Liberty opened the final period with a 10-3 run to establish a cushion it would never relinquish. The surge was fueled by Cleveland, who either scored or assisted on six of those points, including a layup and a hook shot. That stretch pushed the lead to 44-36 and forced Sam Houston to play from behind for the remainder of the contest.

Cleveland, a 6-foot-7 junior from Bloomington, Illinois, was the engine for Liberty, falling just three rebounds shy of a triple-double. He added two blocks and was a central figure in the Flames’ offensive execution. He was supported by JJ Harper, who scored 20 points, and Brett Decker, who added 16 points and two blocks.

Sam Houston was led by Kashie Natt, who posted 20 points and eight rebounds. Po’Boigh King contributed 14 points and Justin Begg had 13 points and six assists. The Bearkats stayed within striking distance thanks to 11 offensive rebounds and nine made three-pointers, but they could not consistently string together stops against Liberty’s methodical attack.

Every time Sam Houston threatened to close the gap in the second half, Liberty had an answer, often through Cleveland. When the Bearkats cut the deficit to 51-47 midway through the half, Cleveland found Harper for a layup and then hit a jump shot himself to push the lead back to eight. Later, after a Kashie Natt tip-in brought Sam Houston within 59-55 with under seven minutes left, Cleveland again assisted on a Decker dunk and then found Harper for another layup to keep the Bearkats at arm’s length.

Liberty’s defense also came up with key plays down the stretch, recording eight steals and six blocks as a team. The Flames’ ability to generate offense from their defense, scoring 10 fastbreak points to Sam Houston’s five, proved to be a significant differential.

The victory keeps Liberty perfect in conference play and extends their winning streak as they continue to build momentum in the CUSA race. Sam Houston, meanwhile, drops its third conference game despite a competitive effort at home.

Liberty next hosts New Mexico State on Thursday, while Sam Houston travels to face Jacksonville State on Wednesday.