LAKE CHARLES – Saying the McNeese Cowboys are hoping to rebound from Saturday's Southland Conference opening loss to preseason favorite Stephen F. Austin on Monday night when it hosts Houston Baptist would be brash. Afterall, the Cowboys went toe-to-toe with the defending champions and had numerous opportunities to post the upset in the very first game.
 
McNeese (6-6, 0-1 SLC) is merely looking to build on its good play from Saturday when the Cowboys and Huskies (5-6, 0-1) meet up at Burton Coliseum. The game will follow at 5:30 contest between the two women's teams. HBU is coming off a 99-78 loss at home to Northwestern State.
 
The Cowboys matched the Lumberjacks' physical play and knocked down big shots when they were needed but the one area that lacked success was at the free throw line where McNeese made just 12 of 22.
 
"I think that had a lot to do with the nature of the physical play," said head coach Dave Simmons. "We were somewhat winded. But we had our chances and thought we played very well against a very good team."
 
Keelan Garrett had the hot hand for the Pokes with a career-high 26 points after hitting 11 of 17 from the field, including 3 for 6 from long range. He and Shaun Johnson combined to sink 7 of the Cowboys' 9 three pointers and went 7 of 12 for the game.
 
Garrett, who is second on the team in scoring with an 11.3 average, has been hot from behind the arc the last five games, having made 15 of his last 36 attempts for 42 percent.
 
Desharick Guidry recorded his 10^th double-double of the season with a 12 point, 10 rebound effort. He'll go into Monday's game the team leader in both scoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounding (11.8). His rebounding mark ranks him as the league leader and third in the NCAA.
 
The Cowboys will be looking to snap a three-game home slide following losses to Toledo, Central Michigan and SFA.
 
Sophomore forward Colter Lasher leads the Huskies in scoring with a 10.8 average followed by junior guard Anthony Odunsi's 10.7 mark.
 
McNeese leads the all-time series against HBU 14-2 and won both of last year's games, including a thrilling 70-68 win in Burton Coliseum last Jan. 18 in a televised game that saw Kevin Hardy dunk over three Huskies player with five seconds to play to win the game.
 
Monday's game will be the only meeting of the season between the two teams. Following Monday, the Cowboys will travel to Corpus Christi on Saturday before staying on the road a week later at Sam Houston State. McNeese will return to Burton on Tuesday Jan. 20 against Abilene Christian.