(Interstat) — In a taut, back-and-forth Conference USA battle that came down to the final possession, the Liberty Flames escaped the Pan American Center with a narrow 77-75 victory over the New Mexico State Aggies on Wednesday night. The win, Liberty’s fourth straight, improved the Flames to 21-3 overall and solidified their position atop the league, while the Aggies fell to 11-13 in a heartbreaking finish before a crowd of 5,236.

The game was a stark contrast of styles and strengths. New Mexico State dominated the interior, outscoring Liberty 40-30 in the paint, largely behind the powerful play of forward Julius Mims, who finished with 21 points. The Aggies’ efficiency inside was mirrored by a perfect 7-for-7 performance at the free-throw line. Liberty, however, countered with perimeter firepower and superior ball security. The Flames connected on 11 three-pointers to the Aggies’ 8 and, critically, committed only 5 turnovers while forcing New Mexico State into 9 miscues.

The first half set the stage for the drama, featuring 10 lead changes and neither team building more than a five-point advantage. New Mexico State took a slim 32-30 lead into halftime, with guard Jemel Jones scoring 10 of his game-high 23 points in the period. Liberty’s offense was carried early by the backcourt duo of JJ Harper and Colin Porter, who combined for 15 first-half points.

The second half evolved into a gripping duel between Liberty’s offensive execution and New Mexico State’s relentless inside attack. The Flames surged early, using a 12-4 run to open the half, capped by a Harper three-point play, to seize a 42-36 lead. Yet, the Aggies, fueled by the home crowd, responded with a run of their own. Jones and Mims combined for 13 points during a stretch that saw New Mexico State claw back to tie the game at 50 with just over 12 minutes remaining.

From there, the teams traded blows. Chris Terrell’s driving layup gave the Aggies a 66-62 lead with 4:33 left, prompting a Liberty timeout. Out of the stoppage, Zach Cleveland answered with a powerful dunk to ignite a decisive 7-0 Flames run. Kaden Metheny, who scored 18 points, drilled a crucial three-pointer, and after a New Mexico State turnover, Harper sank another three to put Liberty ahead 73-68 with 2:17 on the clock.

The Aggies refused to capitulate. Jones connected on his fourth three-pointer of the night to cut the deficit to 73-71. After a missed Liberty three, Mims secured an offensive rebound and put it back to tie the game at 75 with just over a minute remaining. Following a Liberty timeout, the Flames worked the clock down for a final shot. With the seconds ticking away, Colin Porter drove into the lane and dished to a cutting Zach Cleveland, whose short jump shot from the paint rattled home with 1.4 seconds left, giving Liberty the 77-75 lead.

New Mexico State used its final timeout to advance the ball. The inbounds pass found Jemel Jones, whose contested pull-up jumper from just inside the three-point line missed as time expired, sealing the Flames’ victory.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably the final minute, encapsulating the entire contest’s tension. After Julius Mims’ tip-in tied the score at 75, Liberty demonstrated the poise of a veteran team. They calmly ran a set play to milk the clock, avoiding a rushed shot. Colin Porter’s penetration and timely pass, followed by Zach Cleveland’s composed finish under pressure, represented perfect execution. Conversely, New Mexico State’s final play, while generating a decent look for their leading scorer, resulted in a miss that underscored the razor-thin margin between the teams. Cleveland’s game-winner was the culmination of a complete performance from the forward, who tallied 15 points, 4 assists, and 2 blocks while anchoring the defense.

JJ Harper led Liberty with 19 points, while Colin Porter added 15 points and 5 assists. For New Mexico State, Jemel Jones’s 23 points and 4 assists paced the Aggies, with Chris Terrell contributing 12 points and 6 assists.

Liberty, which defeated New Mexico State 73-71 in their first meeting on Jan. 15, completed the season sweep. The Flames will look to continue their momentum on the road at UTEP on Saturday. New Mexico State, facing a tough path to the conference tournament, travels to Jacksonville State, also on Saturday.