LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese Cowboy basketball team will ring in the new decade on Thursday when it continues Southland Conference action by hosting Sam Houston State at 6:30 in the H&HP Arena.
The Cowboys (5-7, 0-1) haven't played since an 81-73 loss to Stephen F. Austin back on December 21 while the Bearkats (9-4, 2-0) defeated Rice in Houston by a 75-61 score this past Sunday.
SHSU opened the conference slate with wins over Northwestern State (92-79) and against preseason favorite New Orleans (87-79), both at home.
McNeese is 5-1 at home this season and is wrapping up a five-game home stand with Thursday's game.
LOOKING AT THE STATS
McNeese and Sam Houston State are ranked No. 2 and 3 respectively in the Southland Conference in scoring – McNeese averaging 82.8 points per game while SHSU at 81.6.
McNeese is the only team in the league hitting 50 percent of its shots, averaging 52.3 on its aim and ranking it No. 2 in the NCAA, while the Bearkats are tops in field goal defense as opponents are making just 39.6 percent against their defense.
The Cowboys are also No. 1 in the nation in three-point shooting (44.3 percent) and three-point field goals made per game (9.7). The Bearkats are third in 3FG shooting (37.2 percent) and also in 3FG made per game (8.6).
Individually, McNeese has the seventh and eighth top scorers in the league in
Dru Kuxhausen (15.8 ppg) and Sha'Markus Kennedy (15.7 ppg) while
A.J. Lawson is ranked 13
th with a 14.9 mark. SHSU's Kai Mitchell is 12
th in scoring with a 15.2 average while Zach Nutall is 17
th with a 13.9 average.
Kuxhausen continues to top the NCAA Division I ranks with 54 three-pointers made and 4.5 threes made per game. He's also fourth in the nation by sinking 51.4 percent of his long balls.
Kennedy is fourth in the league in rebounding (8.4) and second in blocked shots (2.9). He's ranked sixth in the NCAA in field goal shooting (66.7 percent) and is 16
th in blocked shots. He's also one of just 12 players in the country to record a triple-double on the season. Lawson is fifth in assists per game (3.6).
THE SERIES
The Bearkats defeated McNeese 77-62 last year in Huntsville for their fourth straight win over the Cowboys.
Since 2006, McNeese is 7-11 against SHSU and last defeated the Bearkats on Jan. 16, 2016 by a 72-68 score.
NEXT UP
McNeese will hit the road for its two longest conference trips of the season when if visits Central Arkansas on Saturday and Abilene Christian next Wednesday.
The Cowboys will return home on Jan. 11 when they host Northwestern State in the second half of a double header.
