LAKE CHARLES – McNeese's January 29 Southland Conference men's basketball game at home against New Orleans has been moved to Sunday, January 30 at 5 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
 
It'll be the first time since the 2015-16 season opener at nationally ranked LSU that the Cowboys will air on a linear channel for a national broadcast. That game featured the Tigers debut of Ben Simmons who was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in that season's NBA Draft.
 
"This is a huge deal for our program," said first-year head coach John Aiken. "It gives us a tremendous opportunity to highlight our great facility but it also will help us tell our story to a national audience. To have the eyes of the sport world on us for a game is such a unique opportunity. I'm hopeful this is something that becomes much more frequent for our program as we continue to grow. This will be another great chance for an 'Operation Sellout' type game. I'm excited for our players, campus, students and community to be able to experience this national exposure."
 
"Can't be more excited about having the opportunity to play on linear ESPN," said Athletic Director Heath Schroyer. "This is big for our basketball program and our entire university. When you have an opportunity to showcase your university, facilities and program on national TV, the value is immeasurable. I couldn't be more excited and thankful for the opportunity."
 
Also on Thursday, the conference announced its doubleheader games of the week which will air on ESPN+ and McNeese will be featured on three Saturdays.
 
McNeese's league opener against HBU on January 15, the first game back in The Legacy Center, will air on ESPN+ with the women's game beginning at 1 and the men to follow. Also scheduled to air on ESPN+ will be the February 12 contest at Northwestern State and the Feb. 26 home DH vs. Incarnate Word.
 
The Cowgirls will tip-off their season on October 30 in a home exhibition game against Dillard at Burton Coliseum while the Cowboys will open their season on Nov. 9 at SMU.

Southland Productions –Doubleheaders                                                                                       Women/Men Tip
Sat., Jan. 15                    Houston Baptist at McNeese                                                                    1 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 22                    Southeastern at Nicholls                                                                           TBD / 3 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 29                    Nicholls at Houston Baptist                                                                       2 p.m. / 7 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 5                     New Orleans at UIW                                                                                   2 p.m. /4 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 12                   McNeese at Northwestern State                                                                1 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 19                   Northwestern State at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi                                      1 p.m. / 3:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 26                   UIW at McNeese                                                                                        1 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Sat., March 5                  Wild Card