McNeese Tournament Notes

KATY, Texas – It's been four years since a McNeese Cowboy basketball team stepped foot on the hardwood at the Merrell Center her in Katy but that all change on Tuesday afternoon when the Cowboys went through a 55-minute shoot around session a day before opening up Southland Conference Tournament play against Lamar in Wednesday's first round.
 
"We got up this morning and practiced before we left," said head coach Heath Schroyer. "We bussed over and got into the gym and had 55 minutes to shoot so we tried to utilize the time and partnered up and let the guys get a feel for the floor."
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. between the No. 7 Cowboys (15-16, 10-10 SLC) and No. 6 Lamar (16-15, 10-10). The game will broadcast live on ESPN+ and also on the radio and internet on the McNeese Radio Network (1290/1470 AM and CajunRadio.com).
 
McNeese last played in the tournament in 2016.
 
"We're excited to be here," said Schroyer. "Obviously we have a big one (Wednesday) and just take it one day at a time. Our guys are excited to be in the conference tournament. The league does a great job. You can tell, the venue is really well put together. It's an exciting time to be a part of championship week. Champions are getting crowned all over the country. It's March Madness and we're a part of it."
 
McNeese earned its way into the eight-team field after a thrilling, last second win over these same Cardinals just three days ago on Dru Kuxhausen's 4-point play with 0.5 seconds to play.
 
The Cowboys and Cardinals split the season series, each team winning on their opponent's floor.
 
If the Cowboys win, they'll play No. 3 Nicholls at 7:30 on Thursday in a second round game.
 
McNeese SLC Tournament Notes:
• McNeese will be making its first appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament for the first time since the 2016 season when it opens play as the No. 7 seed against #6 Lamar at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
• This will be the 30th appearance for McNeese in the postseason tourney, a league record.
• Cowboys have compiled a 24-28 all-time record in tournament play with six championship game appearances - two titles (1989 and 2002) and three runners-up (1986, 2001, 2011, 2012).
•  McNeese is 1-3 vs. Lamar in the tournament.
• The two played each other in the 2012 title game with Lamar winning 70-49 as the #3 seed. McNeese was #4.
• The Cowboys are 17-10 all-time in first round games and 1-0 vs. Lamar (W 71-57 in 2002).
• Sha'markus Kennedy recorded his 16th double-double against Lamar with 17 pts and 19 reb and is now ranked tied for third for the most double-doubles in a season in conference history
•  McNeese improved on its single season team records in assists (517) and 3-pointers made (268). The SLC record for 3s in a season is 287.
• Dru Kuxhausen continues to lead the nation in three-pointers made, now with 125. He knocked down 5 at Lamar in the last outing.
• McNeese has hit 10 or more threes 10 times this season and are 8-2 when doing so.
• 6-1 in league play when scoring 80 points or more with that loss coming to Lamar (96-91).
• McNeese has dished out 20 or more assists nine times, compiling an 8-1 record when doing so.
• This will be McNeese's first neutral site game of the season.