JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a blistering second-half offensive display, the Liberty Flames survived a furious late rally to edge the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 81-78 in a Conference USA men’s basketball clash Saturday night at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

The most important part of the game was Liberty’s remarkable offensive turnaround after halftime. Trailing by seven points at the break, the Flames erupted for 54 second-half points, shooting with ruthless efficiency to build a commanding lead that ultimately withstood a desperate final-minute push from the home team.

Liberty guard Kaden Metheny, mired in a recent scoring slump, broke out in spectacular fashion to lead the comeback. The Morgantown, West Virginia, native scored 24 points, with the majority coming during the decisive second-half surge. His backcourt mate, Colin Porter of Ashland, Kentucky, added 12 points and a game-high five assists, orchestrating an attack that committed only eight turnovers.

The Flames improved to 24-5 overall, while Jacksonville State fell to 14-15.

The first half belonged to the Gamecocks and forward Mostapha El Moutaouakkil. The native of Rabat, Morocco, was nearly unstoppable, scoring 21 points before halftime on a mix of interior finishes and trips to the free-throw line. His effort propelled Jacksonville State to a 34-27 lead at intermission, as Liberty’s offense sputtered, shooting just 1 for 9 from three-point range in the opening period.

The script flipped completely after the break. Liberty opened the second half on a 14-3 run, fueled by two three-pointers from Metheny. The Flames’ ball movement and shot selection were pristine, and their defense began to limit El Moutaouakkil, who was held scoreless for over 16 minutes in the second half.

Liberty’s offensive rating of 123.6, fueled by 11-of-25 shooting from beyond the arc and a 14-of-18 performance at the free-throw line, proved overwhelming. A three-pointer from Brett Decker of Cecilia, Kentucky, who finished with 16 points, gave the Flames their largest lead at 73-61 with just over three minutes remaining.

Jacksonville State refused to capitulate. The Gamecocks applied full-court pressure, forcing a series of late turnovers. A three-pointer by JaCoby Hill of Phenix City, Alabama, who scored 16 points, and a layup by El Moutaouakkil, who finished with a game-high 21 points, cut the deficit to 79-78 with four seconds left.

Colin Porter was fouled and calmly sank two free throws with 2.6 seconds remaining to push the lead back to three. Jacksonville State’s last-ditch attempt from near half-court was off target, securing the road victory for Liberty.

Beyond the scoring leaders, Liberty’s Zach Cleveland of Bloomington, Illinois, provided a crucial all-around performance with 12 points, five assists and two blocks. Jacksonville State’s Marcus Fitzgerald of Nashville, Tennessee, contributed 10 points and four assists, and Jamar Franklin of Rockledge, Florida, added 11 points.

The game was a statistical oddity, with both teams recording only three and four assists, respectively, and combining for just seven offensive rebounds, highlighting a contest played largely in the half-court with few second chances.

Liberty, which had lost two of its last three games entering the night, righted itself with the road win. The Flames will look to carry the momentum from their explosive second half into their final homestand next week. Jacksonville State, which had won three of its last four, saw its hopes for a late-season rally dampened but will head west for its final two regular-season contests.

The announced attendance was 1,573.