On Friday, Liberty will be making its seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament in school history when the Flames, a No. 12 seed, take on No. 5 seed Oregon with tip-off from Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena scheduled for 10:10 p.m. Eastern. The Flames are 1-5 all-time in the Big Dance with their only win coming in the first round in 2019 as a No. 12 seed, defeating No. 5 seed Mississippi State. Here’s a look back at each of Liberty’s previous NCAA Tournament appearances:

2021

First Round: No. 4 Oklahoma State 69, No. 13 Liberty 60

  • The game was played at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis as this was the COVID Bubble Tournament with the entire event held in Indy.
  • This is Liberty’s only time playing in the Big Dance as a 13-seed and was a third straight appearance for the program.
  • The Cowboys were led by super freshman Cade Cunningham who went on to the number one overall pick in the NBA Draft just a few months later. Liberty, led by Elijah Cuffee, held Cunningham to 3 of 14 shooting and 15 points.
  • The Flames led at half but were unable to hold on with Oklahoma State taking control in the second half. Elijah Cuffee led the Flames with 16 points, while Darius McGhee (12), Blake Preston (11), and Chris Parker (10) also reached double figures.

2020

Tournament not played due to COVID pandemic

  • Liberty earned its second straight NCAA Tournament bid by winning the ASUN Tournament on Sunday, March 8, defeating Lipscomb, 73-57, in the last ever game played at Vines Center.
  • The next week, the COVID pandemic began to shut down sporting events all over the country, eventually leading to that year’s NCAA Tournament being canceled and the Flames not being able to participate despite earning the bid.

2019

First Round: No. 12 Liberty 80, No. 5 Mississippi State 76

  • Receiving something other than a 16-seed for the first time ever, Liberty took full advantage and picked up the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament win.
  • Caleb Homesley led the way with 30 points on 10 of 16 shooting from the field, including 5 of 11 from three. Lovell Cabbil added 18 points while Myo Baxter-Bell scored 13 off the bench.
  • After the Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run late in the second half to grab a 10-point lead, the Flames responded with a 13-2 run to take the lead and would hold on for the historic victory.

Second Round: No. 4 Virginia Tech 67, No. 12 Liberty 58

  • This game was somewhat similar to the first-round loss to Oklahoma State in 2021. Liberty led the Hokies at halftime, 32-29, but were unable to hold on in the second half as Virginia Tech advanced to the Sweet 16. They used a 10-0 run early in the second period to take the lead and would not look back.
  • After his historic game in the first round, Caleb Homesley could not quite find the range from deep in the second round two nights later, connecting on just 1 of 7 triples to finish with 8 points.
  • Lovell Cabbil also struggled from behind the arc, failing to make a three on his five attempts in the game.
  • Darius McGhee, as a freshman, led the Flames off the bench with 15 points on 5 of 11 shooting from three.

2013

First Four: No. 16 North Carolina A&T 73, No. 16 Liberty 72

  • After Liberty’s improbable four-game run to the Big South championship despite having 20 losses, the Flames earned the league’s automatic bid and played in the First Four in Dayton.
  • John Caleb Sanders’ runner at the buzzer missed and Liberty fell by just one-point.
  • Davon Marshall scored 22 points while Sanders added 21 and Tavares Speaks scored 17.

2004

First Round: No. 1 Saint Joe’s 82, No. 16 Liberty 63

  • The Flames didn’t have enough to slow down future pros Jameer Nelson and Delonte West. That dynamic guard combo combined to score 51 points on 18 of 31 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds and 9 assists.
  • Freshman guard David Dees led the Flames with 22 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the field and 3 of 4 from three. Brian Woodson added 10 points.
  • Liberty finished the game with 26 turnovers.

1994

First Round: No. 1 North Carolina 71, No. 16 Liberty 51

  • Liberty made things interesting for the No. 1 seed into the second half before the Tar Heels were able to take control behind their star-studded roster that included Rasheed Wallace and Eric Montross. Those two combined for 35 points and 20 rebounds
  • In the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament appearance, Liberty was led by Matt Hildebrand’s 20 points while Jody Chapman added 11 points and 5 rebounds.