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Liberty hosts New Mexico State following Cleveland’s 23-point performance

New Mexico State Aggies (9-6, 2-3 CUSA) at Liberty Flames (13-3, 5-0 CUSA)

Lynchburg, Virginia; Thursday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Liberty takes on New Mexico State after Zach Cleveland scored 23 points in Liberty’s 82-74 win over the Sam Houston Bearkats.

The Flames are 8-0 on their home court. Liberty is the top team in the CUSA with 17.9 assists per game led by Cleveland averaging 7.5.

The Aggies are 2-3 in conference play. New Mexico State averages 76.3 points while outscoring opponents by 8.2 points per game.

Liberty averages 80.8 points, 12.7 more per game than the 68.1 New Mexico State allows. New Mexico State averages 8.5 more points per game (76.3) than Liberty allows to opponents (67.8).

The Flames and Aggies square off Thursday for the first time in CUSA play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cleveland is averaging 11.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Flames. Brett Decker Jr. is averaging 16.7 points over the last 10 games.

Anthony Wrzeszcz averages 1.7 made 3-pointers per game for the Aggies, scoring 7.7 points while shooting 34.2% from beyond the arc. Jemel Jones is averaging 15.4 points and 1.7 steals over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Flames: 8-2, averaging 77.0 points, 27.5 rebounds, 17.8 assists, 7.0 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.3 points per game.

Aggies: 4-6, averaging 77.3 points, 34.9 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.7 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Blakes scores 38 points, No. 5 Vanderbilt beats Mississippi State for first 18-0 start

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mikayla Blakes scored a season-high 38 points and No. 5 Vanderbilt won its school-record 18th straight game to open the season, beating Mississippi State 89-84 on Thursday night. The Commodores are 5-0 in Southeastern Conference play for the first time since 1992-93, the season they opened 17-0. The 18-game winning streak is the longest in school history at any point in a season. Blakes hit five 3-pointers, made 11 free throws without a miss and had seven assists. Justine Pissott added 12 points, and Aiyana Mitchell had 10 points and eight rebounds. Vanderbilt broke it open with 21-6 run in the third quarter.
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