LAKE CHARLES – McNeese men's basketball team will make its debut in Burton Coliseum on Tuesday night in the first of two home games on the week, one more than all of last season in its pre-Southland Conference slate, when the Cowboys host Louisiana College.
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
The Cowboys (0-1) are coming off an 80-39 season opening loss at Baylor on Friday night in what was a dismal shooting performance for the squad. McNeese, who attempted four more shots in the game than Baylor, hit just 13 of its 62 tries for 21 percent on the night.
 
"Our kids played hard in the game," said head coach Dave Simmons. "But if you don't make shots, you're going to struggle."
 
Senior play from Desharick Guidry, Kevin Hardy and Keelan Garrett struggled as well as the trio combined to shoot 6 of 34 with 13 points scored. Guidry led the way with 11 points and six rebounds.
 
"Our seniors didn't play well and they've got to do it," said Simmons. "We need Kevin to play well."
 
Hardy, who went 0-for-8 from the field and scored one point off a free throw and had three rebounds, was absent from practice the week leading up to the game due to an injury.
 
"He missed some shots he normally makes. I'm not going to say him being hurt played a factor into it. He's tough enough to produce even if he's injured. He just had a bad game," said Simmons.
 
On the positive side of things, the Cowboys got some nice play from their two young point guards – sophomore Jamaya Burr and redshirt freshman Marcus Mathieu as well as from true freshman forward Stephen Ugochukwu.
 
"I was really impressed by how they played, especially the two point guards," said Simmons. "I thought they played well against some seasoned Big 12 guards."
 
Burr turned the ball over just twice with four assists in 29 minutes of action while Mathieu had one turnover in eight minutes of work.
 
Louisiana College will be opening its season on Tuesday night. The Wildcats dropped an 85-57 decision to Louisiana-Lafayette last Friday in what was exhibition game for them. LC is a NCAA Division III school and competes in the American Southwest Conference.
 
Tuesday's game will be the 62^nd meeting between the two teams with McNeese holding a 47-14 lead in the all-time series.