LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese Cowboys basketball team will begin a stretch of five home games out of the next six beginning Thursday night against New Orleans, a span that could determine the team's postseason fate.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Burton Coliseum.
Following Thursday's game, the Cowboys will visit Northwestern State on Saturday afternoon but will return home the following Monday against Southeastern Louisiana to begin a four-game home stand.
McNeese (5-15, 3-7) currently sits in a tie for sixth place with SLU among teams that are eligible for postseason play. Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word and Central Arkansas are ineligible for the tournament. A win on Thursday against UNO (8-13, 4-6) will move the Cowboys into a tie for fifth and just two games behind Sam Houston State for fourth place, a spot that will receive a first round bye in the tournament.
The Cowboys have dropped three straight games, all on the road, and are coming off a 71-56 loss at Nicholls. UNO saw its three-game winning streak snapped last Saturday after getting drilled by Central Arkansas 112-77.
The Privateers defeated the Cowboys 76-64 back on Jan. 30 in New Orleans. In that game,
Craig McFerrin put up career-best numbers with 23 points and 14 rebounds but the Cowboys' poor shooting from 3-point range (15.8 percent) and a late second half scoring drought helped lead to the defeat.
For the season, guard
Jamaya Burr continues to top the team in scoring with 14.0 points per game followed by McFerrin with a 10.3 average to go along with a team-best 7.8 rebounding mark.
However in league games only, McNeese has four players averaging in double-figures, led by Burr's 13.2 mark with freshman
James Harvey close behind with a 12.9 average. Harvey has knocked down 26 three-point goals in 10 league games ranking him fifth in the conference with 2.6 made 3s per SLC contest. Meanwhile, fellow freshman
Jarren Greenwood is averaging 11.9 points in Southland games and is fourth in the league with 48.5 percent aim (16 of 33) in nine SLC games played.
UNO is led in scoring by junior Christavious Gill (13.9 ppg) while Erik Thomas is third in rebounding (7.0) right behind McFerrin.
