LYNCHBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Brett Decker scored 25 points and Liberty used a dominant defensive performance to pull away from Delaware for a 67-51 victory in a Conference USA men’s basketball game Saturday at Vines Center.

The Flames, improving to 17-3 overall, forced 15 turnovers and converted them into 11 points while holding the Blue Hens to their second-lowest scoring output of the season. Delaware fell to 5-14.

The most important stretch of the game came late in the first half, when Liberty transformed a tight contest into a commanding lead. With the Flames leading 16-14 near the eight-minute mark, Delaware’s offense stalled amid a flurry of mistakes. The Blue Hens committed turnovers on four consecutive possessions, part of a larger stretch where they gave the ball away on six of seven trips down the floor.

Liberty capitalized decisively. Sparked by Decker, who hit a pair of 3-pointers during the run, the Flames unleashed a 14-2 surge over a four-minute span. The spurt was fueled entirely by the takeaways, with Zach Cleveland and Colin Porter each recording steals that led to immediate scores. When Decker drained his second triple of the run with 3:47 left, Liberty had opened a 30-16 advantage, effectively securing control for the remainder of the game.

Delaware never recovered from that first-half drought. The Blue Hens shot just 46.3% from the field and a dismal 53.8% from the free-throw line. Their offensive rating of 83.4 points per 100 possessions underscored a afternoon of inefficient offense against a disciplined Liberty defense.

Decker, a 6-foot-3 guard from Cecilia, Kentucky, was the catalyst, hitting 5 of 12 from 3-point range and adding four rebounds in 33 minutes. He has now scored at least 15 points in four consecutive games. Christian Bliss led Delaware with 17 points and six rebounds in a full 40 minutes of action. Justyn Fernandez added 16 points for the Blue Hens.

While Decker provided the scoring punch, Liberty’s victory was built on ball security and distribution. The Flames committed only six turnovers, matching their season low, and dished out 10 assists. Porter, a 5-foot-10 guard, orchestrated the offense with seven assists and five rebounds. Cleveland, a 6-foot-7 forward, filled the stat sheet with eight rebounds, six assists and a block.

Delaware’s early strategy of working inside yielded some success, as they finished with 24 points in the paint, nearly matching Liberty’s 26. Tyler Houser and Jayden Taylor combined for 10 early points to keep the Blue Hens close. However, Liberty’s persistent perimeter defense, which contested shots and generated 10 steals, gradually choked off Delaware’s offensive flow.

The Flames also found their rhythm from beyond the arc, making 11 3-pointers on 30 attempts. Beyond Decker’s contribution, Kaden Metheny and Porter each hit two, spreading the Delaware defense and creating driving lanes.

Liberty led 34-23 at halftime and maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half. The Flames’ advantage ballooned to as many as 19 points after Decker completed a three-point play at the free-throw line with 4:45 remaining.

JJ Harper provided a valuable spark off the bench for Liberty with 10 points, three rebounds and two blocks. Josh Smith also added eight points and four rebounds in 20 minutes.

For Delaware, the loss extends a difficult stretch in conference play. The Blue Hens have now lost three straight and eight of their last nine games.

Liberty entered the game as a heavy favorite according to analytics projections and covered the pregame spread. The total score fell well under the projected over/under line, a testament to the defensive tone set by both teams, particularly Liberty.

The Flames will look to continue their strong conference season when they travel to face Delaware again on Feb. 4. Delaware’s next game is at New Mexico State on Jan. 28.