Midnight basketball is making a comeback, and High Point and Liberty will have the spotlight when they tip off the Field of 68’s Opening Day Marathon late Sunday night.
The eight-game event revives the tradition of overnight college basketball, with games scheduled throughout the night on Monday, November 2. The Panthers and Flames get things started at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday from the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in South Carolina, with coverage streaming on YouTube.
It’s a fitting matchup to launch the marathon, considering what both programs accomplished last season.
High Point enjoyed its best season in school history under first-year head coach Flynn Clayman, finishing 31-5, winning the Big South championship and upsetting Wisconsin 83-82 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers eventually fell to Arkansas in the Round of 32 but return several contributors from that historic run.
Liberty went 26-8 and captured its second consecutive Conference USA regular-season title under Ritchie McKay. However, the Flames now face a significant rebuilding job after losing their entire starting lineup, including Conference USA Player of the Year Zach Cleveland.
Both programs have undergone roster changes, but High Point enters the matchup with more returning experience and will look to pick up where it left off last March.
High Point vs. Liberty Odds Tonight
High Point is a 7.5-point favorite over Liberty at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: High Point -7.5 (-110) | Liberty +7.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: High Point -350 | Liberty +260
- Total: Over 154.5 (-110) | Under 154.5 (-110)
Referenced odds subject to change.
High Point vs. Liberty Prediction
High Point -7.5 (-110): I’m backing the Panthers to win and cover the spread in their season opener, largely due to the difference in experience coming back on each roster.
High Point lost its top two scorers from last season in Rob Martin and Terry Anderson, who each averaged 16 points per game. However, Clayman still has several players returning from a team that won 31 games and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Cam’Ron Fletcher averaged 13.2 points and 7.1 rebounds last season, while Conrad Martinez contributed 8.8 points and 3.3 assists per game. Braden Hausen also returns after averaging 6.7 points, giving the Panthers a group of players already familiar with Clayman’s system.
Liberty doesn’t have that same continuity. The Flames lost their entire starting lineup and six leading scorers from last season, a group that accounted for a combined 71.3 points per game. McKay has brought in six transfers to help rebuild the roster, but replacing that much production in one offseason is no easy task, let alone on Day 1.
The Panthers have also added new talent around their returning core, including transfers CJ Brown from South Florida and Isaac Garrett from Oakland.
Liberty has been one of the more consistent mid-major programs in the country under McKay, but this is a difficult spot to open the season against a High Point team that brings back several contributors from last year’s run.
With High Point’s offensive firepower and the Flames dealing with significant roster turnover, I like the Panthers to win comfortably and cover the 7.5-point spread.
- Best Bet: High Point -7.5 (-110)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
- Moneyline: Liberty has pulled in nearly 75% of all moneyline tickets.
- Spread: High Point -7.5 has received 57% of spread bets, while Liberty +7.5 accounts for 90% of the total money wagered.
- Total: Under 154.5 has drawn 60% of the tickets and 90% of the money wagered.
High Point vs. Liberty Game Info
- 🏟️ Location: Rock Hill Sports & Event Center – Rock Hill, South Carolina
- đź“… Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026
- ⏰ Start Time: 11:59 p.m. ET
- đź“ş Where to Watch: YouTube (Field of 68)
- 🏀 Event: Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon
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