Fans navigating the dozens of schools in the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments might become as attached to the mascots as the athletes themselves.

The first game in Liberty Arena was a success for the Liberty men’s basketball team as the Flames improve to 3-2 with a 78-62 win over St. Francis (1-3). The Flames shot 53 percent from the field, led by Keegan McDowell’s career-high 21 points. First HalfLiberty did an exceptional job of getting its players involved on offense to start the game, as eight players scored for Liberty in the first half. The Flames distributed the ball well throughout the night, especially in the second half recording nine assists off 13 makes. Key Stats & Notes· Liberty shot over 50 percent for the third time this season.