NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State put up its best night shooting in Southland Conference games after knocking down 53 percent, including a remarkable aim of 58 percent in the second half to help down McNeese 87-78 here Saturday in league action.
 
The Cowboys (6-16, 4-8 SLC) rebounded with 50 percent shooting in the second half after knocking down just 28 percent in the first and cut a once 19-point deficit to six points with less than four minutes to play.
 
NSU (7-15, 4-8) got a big 3-point goal by Matt Killian with 1:49 to play to give the Demons an 8-point lead and was able to hold off a determined Cowboy team.
 
"When we got it to 77-71, I thought we had a chance," said Dave Simmons. "But we missed on getting a rebound on their missed free throws and they came back with a bucket to help extend the lead."
 
Both team had four players score in double-figures. Jamaya Burr led McNeese with 21 points. Craig McFerrin added a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while James Harvey added 11 and Jarren Greenwood 10.
 
Zeek Woodley led the Demons with 24 points.
 
McNeese went with a larger lineup to try to slow the high-octane NSU offense, but it may have proved too costly as the Demons jumped out to a 13-2 lead to start the game.
 
"We probably waited too long to go to a smaller lineup," said Simmons. "When you dig a hole that big early against a good shooting team like NSU, that makes it that much harder to rally back."
 
But the Cowboys were able to mount one even though the Demons kept knocking down shots.
 
Trailing 69-54 with 9:44 to play, McNeese put together an 11-3 run to get the deficit under 10 for the first time since the first minutes of the game following a McFerrin layup to make it 72-65 with 6:21 to go.
 
The lead was cut to six at 77-71 after a Burr layup with 3:52 to play and McNeese had an opportunity to get even closer after the Demons missed on two straight free throws. But the Cowboys were unable to get the rebound and NSU came back with two points of its own to go back up by 8.
 
A Harvey 3-point play with 2:16 pulled the Cowboys to within 79-74 but Killian sank a three to up the lead to 82-74 with 1:49 to play.
 
McNeese shot 39.7 percent for the game (29 of 73) and hit just 8 of 28 (28.6 percent) from 3-point range including Harvey and Greenwood combining to go 4 of 17 from long range.
 
"Looking at the stats, we can't have both Jarren and James struggling on their shots," said Simmons. "But that's what happens with freshmen."
 
 
Northwestern State led 44-28 at the half behind 50 percent shooting and double-digit scoring from Woodley and Lane.
 
NSU jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game and led by double figures for most of the frame, building as much as a 19-point lead a couple of times before a Tevin Jackson layup closed the gap to 16 points at the break.
 
McNeese held a 42-35 advantage in rebounds including 20 offensive boards.
 
The Cowboys will now return to Burton Coliseum to begin a four-game home stand beginning Monday night at 8 against Southeastern Louisiana in a game that will be televised on the American Sports Network (ASN).