FAIRFAX, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant opening act and a frantic, desperate finish, the Liberty Flames weathered a monumental second-half rally by George Mason to escape EagleBank Arena with a 77-71 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball clash on Tuesday night.

The contest unfolded in two starkly different chapters. Liberty, improving to 26-7, constructed a commanding lead in the first half with stifling defense and efficient offense, holding the Patriots to a paltry 24 points before the break. George Mason, which fell to 23-10, shot a dismal percentage in the opening period, struggling to find any rhythm against the Flames’ disciplined scheme.

Liberty’s first-half control was spearheaded by forward Josh Smith. The 6-foot-9 junior from Monrovia, Indiana, was a force inside, scoring 13 of his game-high 23 points before halftime. His early layup and dunk helped establish an interior presence that George Mason could not counter. Guard Brett Decker added 10 of his 17 points in the first, including a critical 3-pointer, while Colin Porter’s perimeter shooting stretched the Patriot defense. The Flames led by as many as 18 and took a 34-24 advantage into the locker room, having outscored George Mason 40-32 in the paint for the game and converting Patriot turnovers into key transition opportunities.

The second half, however, was a wholesale reversal. Sparked by the backcourt duo of Jahari Long and Kory Mincy, George Mason unleashed a 47-point offensive explosion. Long, a 6-foot-5 guard from Houston, Texas, was nearly unstoppable, pouring in 21 of his 27 points after intermission. His driving layups, pull-up jumpers, and a trio of 3-pointers fueled the comeback. Mincy, from East Point, Georgia, added 14 of his 16 points in the second, as the Patriots methodically chipped away at the deficit.

The Flames’ offense, led by Smith and the steady playmaking of Zach Cleveland, who finished with 9 points and 7 assists, managed to keep pace for stretches. But the Patriots’ defensive pressure intensified, forcing Liberty into tougher shots. With just over three minutes remaining, Emmanuel Kanga’s layup off a feed from Long capped the surge and brought George Mason within a single possession at 65-62, sending the home crowd of 1,485 into a frenzy.

The most important sequence of the game, which ultimately decided the outcome, occurred in the final 90 seconds with Liberty clinging to a 69-67 lead. Following a timeout, Liberty’s JJ Harper, who had been a defensive catalyst all night with three blocks and three steals, intercepted a pass from Jahari Long. Harper then finished the critical fast break with a thunderous dunk to push the lead to four. On the ensuing possession, Harper again rose to the occasion, blocking a Kory Mincy jump shot. Brett Decker secured the rebound and was fouled, sinking two free throws to extend the margin to six with 39 seconds left.

George Mason’s last gasp saw Long convert two free throws to cut it to 71-69, but Liberty’s composure at the foul line sealed the win. Josh Smith, returning to the game after a brief rest, was fouled on the inbounds pass and calmly sank two free throws. After another defensive stop, Smith grabbed a defensive rebound and was fouled again, hitting two more from the charity stripe to effectively ice the game at 75-69. Zander Carter’s final dunk provided the exclamation point before Long’s meaningless layup at the buzzer set the final margin.

While Long’s 27-point, 4-assist effort was heroic in the comeback, Liberty’s balanced attack and key plays in the final minute proved decisive. Smith’s 23 points and 7 rebounds anchored the Flames, supported by Decker’s 17 points and Harper’s all-around line of 8 points, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. For George Mason, Mincy’s 16 points and Kanga’s 12 points and 2 blocks off the bench were not enough to overcome the disastrous first half.

The victory marked a resilient road win for Liberty, which had lost two of its last three coming in, while George Mason’s late surge fell short despite defying the pregame projections that heavily favored the Patriots. The Flames’ ability to build an early fortress and then withstand a sustained siege in a hostile environment underscored a toughness that carried them to their 26th win of the season.