Posted By: Richie Hall February 5, 2026
The REPORTER
Tuesday night at Liberty Christian the University boys were facing a double-digit fourth quarter deficit for the second time in two nights. The Trailblazers again staged a furious rally, but unlike Monday night when they scored a buzzer-beating win over Bishop Chatard, the University comeback fell short and University fell to Liberty Christian 69-65.
The contest with Liberty Christian was to decide the Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference (PAAC) North Division championship and it lived up to the billing.
The first half of the game was a back-and-forth affair with neither team leading by more than two possessions. The opening 16 minutes saw eight ties and four lead changes. A pair of Faisal Mohamud free throws with 16 seconds left in the half gave University a 30-28 halftime lead. Mohamud had seven first half points with Josh Henderson leading the Blazers in first half scoring with 11 points, including making seven for seven free throws.
University stretched their lead to 36-30 early in the third quarter on a pair of Mohamud baskets sandwiched around a driving bucket by Henderson. The Lions charged back to take a 41-40 lead with 3:10 left in the quarter before Mohamud made two free throws to put University back in front 42-41. 5-11 senior Noah Cortez sparked the Trailblazers with a tip in basket and a three pointer from the left wing for a 47-41 lead. After a pair of Liberty Christian foul shots, Mohamud gave University their largest lead of the night at 50-43 with 1:00 on the clock. The Lions answered with a banked in three pointer and a foul shot off of an offensive rebound to cut the University lead to 50-47 at the end of third quarter.
Liberty Christian ran its scoring streak to 14 in a row by scoring the first ten points of the fourth quarter. Cooper Cammack broke the University scoring drought with a basket at the 3:55 mark. The Lions stretched their lead to 63-53 with three minutes remaining and still led 66-57 with less than a minute on the clock.
Peter Morales made a three pointer from the left wing with 55 seconds left to give University hope for a comeback. After a pair of missed Lions foul shots, Henderson made two free throws with 39 seconds left to cut the lead to 66-62. Liberty Christian’s Kendrick Martin made a foul shot with 29 seconds before Josh McGee’s three pointer from the right wing got University within 67-65. The Lions’ Tywaine Fuller sealed the victory with a pair of free throws.
Henderson led the Trailblazers with 19 points. Mohamud had 16 and McGee 10.
University had no answer for Martin. The 6-3 junior poured in a game high 31 points. Fuller and Monte Dillard had 11 each for the Lions.
Liberty Christian finished 3-0 in the PAAC North and will play at Park Tudor for the PAAC championship on Feb. 13. University falls to 11-4 overall and 2-1 in the PAAC North. The Trailblazers will play at Shortridge in the third-place PAAC game on Feb. 13.
