LAKE CHARLES – McNeese will close out its home schedule on Wednesday night when it hosts Southeastern Louisiana at 6:30 at the H&HP Arena in Southland Conference action.
Two seniors, Sha'markus Kennedy and Roydell Brown, will be recognized in a pregame ceremony.
The Cowboys (12-15, 7-9) will be looking to snap a six-game losing streak. McNeese is currently in eighth place in the league standings (the top eight teams qualify for the league tournament) and one game ahead of Incarnate Word and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. SLU has lost seven straight games and is 6-21 overall and 3-13 in conference play.
Heading into Wednesday's game, McNeese ranks No. 1 in the league in five stat categories – field goal percentage (49.9), three-point field goal percentage (40.7), 3-point field goals made per game (8.5), total 3-point field goals made (229), and fewest fouls (95).
The 229 3FG made is a new season school record.
Individually, Kennedy and Dru Kuxhausen combine to top the conference in 11 categories – eight by Kennedy and three for Kuxhausen.
Kennedy is No. 1 in FG percentage (67.5), rebounds per game (10.6), total rebounds (275), defensive rebounds per game (7.2), offensive rebounds per game (3.4), total FG made (187), triple-doubles (1), and double-doubles (14). He's also No. 2 in scoring (18.3), blocked shots per game (2.9), total blocks (74), and total points (475).
Kuxhausen leads the league in three-pointers made (106), threes made per game (3.9), 3FG percentage (48.4) and is second in 3FG attempts (219). His 106 threes made ranks No. 1 in the NCAA and is one off of matching the school record of 107 and nine away from tying the conference record of 115.
The Cowboys defeated the Lions 77-61 back on Jan. 22 in Hammond.
About the seniors:
Sha'markus Kennedy and Roydell Brown will be playing in their final home game of their McNeese career on Wednesday night as the only two seniors on the squad, both wrapping up two-year careers.
Kennedy as had an MVP season this year, ranking No. 1 in the league in rebounding (10.6) and second in scoring (18.3 ppg). He's currently ranked No. 2 in the NCAA in FG shooting at 67.5 percent while his 14 double-doubles tops the league and ranks as the 15th-most in the nation.
He's scored double-figures 23 times on the season and 41 times in his career while scoring 20 or more points in 21 career games. He's scored 30 or more twice and had a career-high 37 points in a win over HBU three weeks ago.
He tied a single-game school record with 10 blocked shots against Kansas City when he also recorded just the fifth triple-double in school history. He's pulled down 20 or more rebounds twice with a high of 21 against Central Arkansas on Feb. 8 which ranks as the 5th-most rebounds in a game in school history.
In his career, he's averaging 16.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and hitting 66 percent of his shots. He's SLC and Louisiana Player of the Week four times this season; named College Sports Madness Mid-Major Player of the Week; and has been selected to the conference watch list for the Dos Equis 3X3U team.
Brown was named to the NABC All-District 23 Second Team last season after he led the Cowboys in both scoring and rebounding. This year, he's been one of the top rebounders in the league while ranking second on the team with 8.0 per game.
In his career, Brown has scored double-figures 26 times with eight games at 20 points or more. He's appeared in 50 career games, making 49 starts including a start in all 27 games so far this season. He's accumulated career numbers of 11.2 points and 8.7 rebounds as a Cowboy.
He was named a preseason All-Conference selection this year after garnering honorable mention honors last season.
