LAKE CHARLES – Head coach
Dave Simmons and the Cowboys are finally returning to Lake Charles after playing five of the last six on the road. McNeese (7-11. 4-4) will tip-off against Sam Houston (12-10, 6-3) at the Lake Charles Civic Center on Tuesday at 6:30PM.
Saturday's match-up will be the 69th meeting between the two teams with McNeese holding a 37-31 despite dropping four of the last five.
The Cowboys are returning home after a four game road streak, adding two wins and two loses to their record. McNeese was able to score big wins against Southeastern and Houston Baptist while dropping contests against Nicholls and Lamar.
The loss at Lamar marked sophomore
Kalob Ledoux's fourth 20-point performance of the season. The starting guard is currently leading the Cowboys with 14.2 ppg Ledoux has 13 double-digit games so far, including the last nine. In the Southland, he is 11
th on the overall scoring list, 5
th in conference play only.
The Bearkats gave up a big loss to Stephen F Austin on Saturday, losing 83-66 on the road.
But despite hitting 22 of 30 from the foul line, the Kats were just 4-for-19 from beyond the arc, including 0-for-6 in a first half that also saw the Lumberjacks can all six of their triples for the game. John Dewey III would add 12 points for Sam Houston, along with four steals, and both Marcus Harris and Christopher Galbreath Jr. would finish with 10.
Sam Houston swept the season series a year ago, winning both in Lake Charles and Huntsville in what was the first season the teams met multiple times since 2012-13.
The last time the two teams met, McNeese suffered its seventh-straight loss, falling to Sam Houston 79-74.
The Bearkats never led by more than six points in the second half and the Cowboys were able to get the deficit to three at 71-68 with 2:47 to play and with the ball. Then with 1:30 left and trailing 73-70 after Burr knocked down a couple of free throws but SHSU dealt the final blow with a 3-pointer with just over a minute to play to put the Bearkats up 76-70.
Sam Houston's probable starters will more than likely be led by senior Chris Galbreath Jr. (15 ppg, 8.8 rpg), Galbreath is the only other SLC player to match Cowboy
Quatarrius Wilson's nine games with 10 or more rebounds.
In the Southland Conference, only two losses separate 1st (UNO, 8-2) and 9th place (McNeese 4-4).
Tuesday's game will be not available for live stream, but fans are encouraged to follow along with live stats and audio. Links for both can be found at McNeeseSports.com.
During every home game, fans will have the chance to win a $200 Boreing Vision giftcard as well as up a piece of $240 in cash prizes! Make sure to look for our marketing staff for a chance to participate in the Boreing Vision Half-Court shot and the Universal Coin Halftime Challenge!
