LAKE CHARLES – Four games remain on the McNeese basketball schedule and the Cowboys are still in the hunt for a postseason Southland Conference Tournament berth after Wednesday's overtime win over Central Arkansas.
 
That makes Saturday afternoon's 3 p.m. home contest against New Orleans that much more important as the Cowboys, despite being down to nine players (seven on scholarship), look to win their second straight game and remain in the race for the postseason.
 
"That was a huge win for us," said head coach Heath Schroyer. "Where we're at right now, every game is a playoff game. We're just taking it one day at a time, one game at a time. We obviously know that Wednesday was a big step in the right direction. But we have to make a little hay here coming down the stretch for us to get in. I think if we're able to get into the tournament, get Roydell (Brown) back and healthy, it's March and there's a reason why everyone calls it March Madness.
 
"We're working every day and I'm proud of our guys."
 
The Cowboys (8-18, 4-9 SLC) sit two games out in the loss column behind three teams – Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and Stephen F. Austin – all tied for the sixth, seventh and eighth place spots.
 
McNeese will travel to HBU next Saturday (March 1) and will host Corpus on March 6 in two games that could determine postseason spots.
 
New Orleans (15-10, 10-4 SLC) has won two straight and six out of its last seven games and is currently in third place in the league standings.
 
The Privateers defeated the Cowboys 79-66 back on Jan. 12 in New Orleans.
 
"They're one of the best teams in our league for sure," said Schroyer about UNO. "Coach Slessinger has done an unbelievable job in the eight years he's been there. We have a lot of respect for them.
 
"All their guys are 6-foot-4 to 6-9. They're big and physical. They really beat us up last time. We're going to have to do a really good job defensively to take them out of some things and keep them out of rhythm."
 
COWBOY NOTES:
• In Roydell Brown's absence the last three games, Sha'Markus Kennedy is averaging 19 points and 9.7 rebounds in 33 minutes of action. He's scored 20 or more points in two straight games, including 26 against UCA on Wednesday.
• Senior guard Jarren Greenwood recorded his first career double-double against UCA with 13 points and a career-best 10 rebounds.
• True freshman walk-on Trey Johnson had a career day against UCA on Wednesday when he scored a career-high 7 points, all in the second half; career-best in rebounds (3), FG made (3), FG attempted (5), assists (5), and minutes played (30).