LAKE CHARLES – Before the McNeese Cowboy basketball team looks towards the future with the reopening of the Legacy Center, the Cowboys will take a step back in time on Wednesday when it hosts Arlington Baptist at the McNeese Ralph Ward Recreation Complex in the final game before beginning Southland Conference play against HBU on Saturday.
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be open to McNeese students only. The game will stream live on Cowboy Insider on the McNeeseSports.com website. McNeese was originally scheduled to host Dallas Christian but the Crusaders had to cancel due to Covid protocols within the program.
 
Known as the McNeese Arena for decades, the Ward Complex once served as the home arena for the Cowboys from 1956-1972 with their last game played in the complex coming on Feb. 17, 1972. The Cowboys began playing at the Lake Charles Civic Center in the 1972-73 season until 1986 when they moved their home arena out to Burton Coliseum.
 
On Saturday, McNeese will return to play in the Legacy Center after spending nearly two years away from the new arena due to the reconstruction of damages caused by Hurricane Laura and Delta in August and October of 2020.
 
Wednesday's game against Arlington Baptist should provide a good lead up to Saturday's Southland Conference opener against HBU.
 
"We're not looking past Wednesday's opponent but we are looking forward to getting back to playing in the Legacy Center on Saturday and what we're expecting to be a full house," said head coach John Aiken.
 
The Cowboys (5-11) had a solid showing at last week's Southland Tip-Off Tournament that saw them beat one of the league preseason favorites in New Orleans by a 92-82 double-overtime score.
 
McNeese is ranked No. 1 in the league in rebounding (39.6 per game) and is second in steals (9.8).
 
Individually, Myles Lewis leads the team in scoring with an 11.7 average followed by Kellon Taylor (9.8), Brendan Medley-Bacon (9.7) and Christian Shumate (9.3). Medley-Bacon leads the team and is ranked sixth in the conference with 6.3 rebounds per game.