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ABILENE, Texas – It's been a tough first three games of the Southland Conference season for the McNeese Cowboys and it won't get any easier on Wednesday when they Pokes visit Abilene Christian at 7 p.m. in Moody Coliseum.
 
The game will air live on ESPN+ and also on Cajun Radio 1290 AM and CajunRadio.com.
 
McNeese (5-9, 0-3) has dropped all seven of its games on the road this season and nine straight dating back to last year, and after a 12-day layoff for the Christmas holidays, the Cowboys seem to still be getting back into the swing of things like they were prior to the break.
 
"I think there are a lot of things you can point to," said head coach Heath Schroyer. "Was it great to have a 12 day layoff? Probably not. Was it great to come back and play a team like Sam (Houston State)? Probably not. Then the next day get on the road to Central Arkansas. All those are valid reasons. But in the end, when you look in the mirror, I have to do a better job; our staff has to do a better job; our team has to do a better job. It starts with me."
 
The Cowboys were 5-7 prior to the break with near misses against Texas and Stephen F. Austin, now they'll face an Abilene team that is 3-0 in league play (8-6 overall) and outscoring its opponents by 12 points in those contests.
 
"They're really good," said Schroyer about ACU. "They're one of the best teams in the league on both sides of the ball. They play really big and physical. Their post guys are loads."
 
Two of those guys are center Kolton Kohl, who stands at 7-feet tall, and 6-foot-8 forward Joe Pleasant.
 
Pleasant leads the Wildcats in scoring in the three SLC games only with a 14.7 average while Kohl is second on the unit with 14 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounding average in conference play.
 
The Cowboys are led offensively by Dru Kuxhausen's 15.9 scoring mark, followed by Sha'markus Kennedy (15.4) and A.J. Lawson (14.9). The trio is ranked seventh, eighth and 10^th respectively in the SLC in scoring.
 
Kuxhausen continues to lead the nation in three-pointers made (61) and three-pointers made per game (4.4) while ranking fourth in three-point field goal shooting (51.3 percent).
 
Kennedy is tops in the league and eighth nationally in total field goal shooting at 65.3 percent, is second in the conference and 18^th nationally with 2.8 blocked shots per game, and is second in the SLC and 20^th nationally with 36 total blocks. He's also second in the conference in rebounds per game with an 8.7 average.
 
As a team, the Cowboys are tops in the league in second in the NCAA in both 3-point shooting (42.4 percent) and total field goal shooting (51.3 percent). McNeese also leads the Southland Conference in three-pointers made per game (9.4, 35^th nationally), fewest fouls committed and personal fouls committed per game.
 
Wednesday's game will be the 10^th meeting in the series with McNeese holding onto a 5-4 lead. ACU has won the last four matchups, including edging the Cowboys 73-72 in Lake Charles last season as a last second attempt for McNeese for the win fell off the mark.
 
The Wildcats were picked for a third place finish in the preseason poll.
 
McNeese will return home on Saturday when it hosts Northwestern State in the second part of a double-header that begins at 1 p.m.
 
QUICK NOTE:
• McNeese's first four SLC opponents are a combined 13-2 in league play. The next four opponents are 3-10.