NEW ORLEANS – McNeese returns to action here Monday night against Tulane looking to build off its performance against North Carolina Central from Saturday where the Cowboys had their chances to pick up their first Division I win of the season.
Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at Tulane's Fogleman Arena. It'll be broadcast live on ESPN3 as well as the McNeese Radio Network (Cajun Radio 1290/1470 AM and cajunradio.com).
The Cowboys (2-7) dropped a 74-66 decision to NCCU on Saturday afternoon but showed flashes of having success.
"I think the main thing is we need to continue to progress," said head coach
Dave Simmons who is 1-1 against the Green Wave in his McNeese career. "We had our chances to beat a really good team on Saturday. We had too many self-inflicted miscues (McNeese turned he ball over a season-high 20 times) and we missed some point blank shots.
"We also have to do a better job of getting (James) Harvey the ball."
The sophomore guard is the team's top 3-point shooter but was held to 0-for-5 from long range on Saturday, snapping his streak of 18 consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer made.
"Tulane has some big kids and are playing well lately so we're going to have to build off of our last game and not regress," said Simmons.
The Green Wave (3-7) have won three straight games and are coming off a 71-64 win at Southern Mississippi on Saturday. In that game, Cameron Reynolds recorded his second-career double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds as Tulane won on the road for the first time this season.
Tulane downed Southern 84-75 in its last home game back on Dec. 7.
McNeese is led in scoring by senior guard
Jamaya Burr who is averaging 12.2 points per game.
Jarren Greenwood and
Kalob Ledoux follows with an 11.0 average apiece.
Greenwood led McNeese with 15 points against NCCU followed by 13 from Burr and 11 by Ledoux.
Monday's game is the first of two on the week, the final two before starting Southland Conference play. The Cowboys will play at North Carolina State on Thursday night and will open league play on Dec. 31 at Northwestern State.
Tulane is coached by former NBA head coach Mike Dunleavy, Sr., who is in his first season with the program.
