Liberty Flames vs Kennesaw State Owls Picks and Prediction for Thursday February 26 2026
Use Code WWWC The Liberty Flames (23-4, 15-1 in CUSA) travel to Kennesaw, Georgia to play the Kennesaw State Owls (16-11, 8-8 in CUSA), with the Owls looking to give Liberty their second conference loss of the season. Get involved in the action with our free college basketball picks.
Liberty vs. Kennesaw State Game Information
- February 26, 2026
- 7:00pm EST
- VyStar Arena
- ESPN+
Kennesaw State Form & Recent Results
Kennesaw State heads into Thursday night riding a two-game winning streak, but they have three losses mixed into their last five games. They’re coming off a tight 58–55 home win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday, a game where they had to grind things out rather than win comfortably. RJ Johnson was a key difference-maker, finishing with 15 points and also setting up teammates with five assists, while Frankquon Sherman made his presence felt on the glass by pulling down six rebounds. Even though the Owls didn’t shoot particularly well, 35% from the field and just 23% from three, they stayed in it by competing for the full 40 minutes. They also turned the ball over 13 times, but they still managed to control the flow for large stretches, leading for 51% of the game and doing enough late to protect the win.
Looking at the season as a whole, Simeon Cottle has been the clear scoring leader for Kennesaw State, putting up 20.2 points per game and serving as the main offensive engine. Johnson has provided strong secondary scoring support, averaging 14.2 points per game, and gives them another dependable option when they need a basket. Sherman has been their most consistent rebounder all season, leading the team at 8.1 boards per game, which has been important in helping them earn extra possessions and limit opponents’ second chances. Cottle also contributes as their top playmaker, averaging 3.8 assists per game, showing he can create for others and not just score. Defensively, though, the Owls have had some issues lately, giving up 78.4 points per game over their last five games, so that’s something they’ll want to tighten up. Still, their home form has been a major strength all season: they’re 11–3 at home and have scored an impressive 88.9 points per game in their own building, which highlights how comfortable and dangerous they can be there, something that could make this a real challenge for Liberty.
Liberty Form & Recent Results
Liberty comes into this game trying to bounce back after a one-game skid, although their overall form has still been strong with four wins in their last five games. Their most recent performance was a tough 94–73 loss at home to Western Kentucky on Saturday. Colin Porter led the way offensively with 20 points, while Zach Cleveland chipped in across the board, finishing with four rebounds and five assists for the Flames. Even though Liberty shot a solid 56% from the field, they never fully took control of the contest and only held the lead for about 18% of the game, which made it difficult to build any momentum.
Get Free $30 Credit for Premium Picks + Exclusive Discounts
Subscribe Now
Liberty’s production has been led by Brett Decker Jr. across the season, who is averaging 16.6 points per game, with Kaden Metheny close behind at 13.2 points per game. Cleveland has been one of the team’s most important all-around pieces, leading Liberty on the glass at 7.7 rebounds per game and also pacing the team in playmaking with 7.0 assists per game. Offensively, the Flames have been steady lately, putting up 78.4 points per game over their last five games. They’ve also been especially dependable away from home, owning a 9–1 road record while averaging 74.2 points in those games. With only one CUSA loss so far this season, Liberty will be focused on maintaining that strong conference position as they head on the road to take on Kennesaw State.
Key Stats
- Liberty’s Zach Cleveland this season: 7.7 rebounds, 7 assists per game
- Kennesaw State’s Simeon Cottle this season: 20.2 points, 3.8 assists per game
Betting Odds & Market Overview:
- LIB -2.5; O/U 153.5
Liberty vs. Kennesaw State Picks and Prediction
Liberty has been just about flawless in CUSA play this season, dropping only one of their sixteen conference games so far, which makes Thursday a tough draw for Kennesaw State. That kind of consistency has been hard to match, and Liberty has usually found a way to win even when games get tight. That being said, Liberty is coming off a rare slip-up at home against Western Kentucky, which marked only their fourth loss of the season overall. They’ll want to move on quickly and treat it as a one-off, but a loss like that doesn’t disappear overnight. It’ll be lingering a bit as they take the floor, especially with the added urgency of trying to make sure they don’t fall into a two-game skid. Final Score Prediction, Liberty Flames win but fail to cover the spread, 79-78.
Betting on College Basketball?
- Join Winners and Whiners premium for free and get a free $30 coupon with code FREE30
- Get started and wager on college hoops today with our favorite online sportsbooks
- Claim a CBB betting bonus offer with the best sportsbook promos
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
