LAKE CHARLES – A late three-point basket then a key block out on a free throw by James Harvey along with a timely steal by Trey Johnson just 38 seconds after entering the game for the first time with just over two minutes to play, and Roydell Brown scoring a career-high 28 points to go along with 12 rebounds for his 10^th double-double on the season, all played a major part in McNeese's 79-73 Southland Conference win over Houston Baptist on Saturday.
 
Harvey added 22 points behind 5 of 8 shooting from 3-point range, but it was his block out and rebound off a Edward Hardt free throw attempt with 1:17 remaining and the Cowboys up 74-70 that really put the game away for the Cowboys.
 
"They were the No. 1 rebounding team in our league and that's just something we've been really stressing, to come out and get rebounds," said Harvey. "Coach told us if we could outrebound them then we'll win. They've been on me about putting a body on somebody and getting the rebound."
 
HBU held a slight edge in the rebounding department by a 36-32 count.
 
"I think Harvey's block out at the end of the game was really the difference," said head coach Heath Schroyer whose Cowboys improved to 7-13 overall and 3-4 in conference play. "We've been on him about his physicality and blocking out and making those tough plays, and he did."
 
McNeese controlled the game from the tip until early in the second half when a 13-point halftime lead was dissolved after the Huskies (5-13, 1-6) rolled off nine straight points to start the second half then took their first lead on the day with 12:17 remaining to cap a 20-5 run.
 
In the process, the Cowboys' big men fell victim to foul trouble as Sha'Markus Kennedy picked up his fourth just 1:40 into the second half and had to take a seat. Malik Hines also suffered foul trouble and that forced the Cowboys to go to AJ Brown. Eventually, all three fouled out of the game which forced Schroyer to put the true freshman Johnson into action late in the game and had to play the 4-spot.
 
"Trey Johnson comes in the game at the end at the 4 (guard). We've talked about doubling the post and he comes in and doubles it on the backside and gets a turnover and steal. That's a big play," said Schroyer.
 
Johnson's steal came after Harvey rallied the Cowboys from a 6-point deficit with a three-pointer then a layup to put McNeese up 73-68 with 2:21 to play and finishing off a 16-4 run by McNeese that began at the 8:09 mark with it trailing 64-58.
 
During the six-minute run, Brown scored seven of the Cowboys' 16 points, including an offensive rebound off the rim and a slam.
 
McNeese's defense limited the Huskies to just one field goal in the final 9:12 of the game, that being a 3-point basket by Ty Dalton with nine seconds remaining to make the score 79-73.
 
Stephen O'Suji led HBU with 17 points while conference scoring leader Ian DuBose scored 14 points, five below his season average.
 
Meanwhile, McNeese connected on 9 of 12 from the free throw line with under five minutes remaining. The Cowboys hit 25 of 32 from the stripe for 78 percent.
 
McNeese shot 24 of 51 for 47 percent from the floor and 6 of 16 for 38 percent from long range while HBU knocked down 22 of 53 for 42 percent and was 5 of 19 from 3-point range for 26 percent.
 
"This is a big win for us," said Schroyer as the Cowboys will have another Wednesday off from competition this week before hosting Lamar next Saturday. "I want to thank the fans. You sit here on a Saturday afternoon with beautiful weather and we have over 2,100 again. Our fans are just phenomenal."
 
The final attendance count was 2,383 to mark the fifth time this season the Cowboys have clipped the 2,300 mark.