In a thrilling basketball showdown on Thursday night, Liberty emerged victorious against Middle Tennessee with a scoreline of 86-81 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Liberty’s win was highlighted by Taelon Peter’s impressive 33-point performance, which overshadowed Essam Mostafa’s notable 30-point, 20-rebound effort for Middle Tennessee.
Peter’s remarkable contribution came from an efficient 11-of-14 shooting performance for the Flames, who now boast a season record of 24-6, with a 12-5 standing in Conference USA. Zach Cleveland supported the Flames’ effort by scoring 16 points, making 6 of his 9 shots from the field and securing 4 out of 5 free throws; he also contributed with five rebounds and six assists. Owen Aquino added 12 points, shooting 5 for 9 and grabbing seven rebounds, although he was unable to make any three-pointers in three attempts.
Middle Tennessee, now carrying a season record of 20-10 and an 11-6 tally in conference games, saw their top performer Essam Mostafa make 12 of his 18 shots from the field. Kamari Lands provided a solid showing by adding 15 points, and Camryn Weston contributed with 11 points along with six rebounds.
The first half concluded with Liberty leading 42-37, thanks largely to Peter’s 14-point contribution. He continued to lead the charge for Liberty in the second half, adding another 19 points to his tally, steering the team towards their narrow victory.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to face new challenges on Saturday. Liberty will travel to face Western Kentucky, while Middle Tennessee will host Florida International at their home court.
