Cleveland Hits Game Winner, Flames Win Program-Record 15th Straight

Liberty's Zach Cleveland hits last-second shot to lift Flames over New Mexico State

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Liberty's Zach Cleveland hit the game-winning shot as time expired, lifting the Liberty Flames to their program-record-setting 15th straight victory, a 77-75 road CUSA triumph over New Mexico State at the Pan American Center on Wednesday evening.

Why it matters

Liberty's 15-game winning streak is the longest in program history, breaking the previous record of 14 set in 2019-20. The Flames have now won 18 straight games against CUSA opponents and are 24-1 in their last 25 conference games, cementing their status as a dominant force in the league.

The details

With 1.4 seconds left in regulation, Colin Porter inbounded the ball to Cleveland, and the senior forward banked in the game winner at the horn to give the Flames the dramatic win. Liberty bolsters its overall record to 21-3, including a perfect 13-0 CUSA mark. The Flames' 15 wins establish a new program record, breaking a tie with the 2019-20 team. Liberty is 7-0 in league road games following the buzzer-beating triumph.

  • On February 12, 2026, Liberty defeated New Mexico State 77-75 at the Pan American Center.
  • Liberty's 15-game winning streak began on December 16.

The players

Zach Cleveland

A senior forward for the Liberty Flames who hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to give Liberty the victory.

Colin Porter

A Liberty player who inbounded the ball to Zach Cleveland for the game-winning shot.

Jemel Jones

A player for New Mexico State who scored a game-high 23 points in the loss.

Julius Mims

A New Mexico State player who recorded a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

JJ Harper

A Liberty player who scored 19 points, his second-highest scoring output of the season.

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What’s next

Liberty will close out the two-game road trip at UTEP (10-15, 6-8 CUSA), Saturday afternoon on ESPN2. Game time between the Flames and Miners is 2 p.m. Eastern (noon Mountain).

The takeaway

Liberty's 15-game winning streak, the longest in program history, showcases the team's dominance in Conference USA. The Flames' ability to win close games on the road, including this dramatic buzzer-beater, demonstrates their resilience and poise as they continue their push towards the CUSA championship.