LAKE CHARLES – McNeese Basketball will host its first Multi-Team Event (MTE) in over 40 years this Friday through Sunday at the Legacy Center with games featuring Lamar, Western Carolina and Lindenwood.
 
Lamar (2-1) will battle the Ohio Valley Conference's Lindenwood (1-2) to kick off the MTE on Friday at 2 p.m. McNeese (1-1) will host Western Carolina (1-2) at 4:30 in a game that will also broadcast on ESPN+.
 
On Saturday, Lamar and Western Carolina will tip-off at 11 a.m. followed by McNeese and Lindenwood at 1:30. Lindenwood and Western Carolina will start Sunday's slate of games at 11 a.m. while McNeese and Lamar will conclude the MTE at 1:30.
 
"This is a great opportunity for our community to get excited about basketball this early in the year," said Cowboys' head coach John Aiken. "To be able to host three Division I mid-major programs in non-conference is pretty unique here at McNeese. It gives us a great opportunity to learn about our team and some momentum through wins at home and really build early in the year."
 
Normally, the Cowboys would be on the road for much of the non-conference schedule playing money games, but this change of pace is a welcome sight for McNeese to get games in at home against like-opponents before visiting powers such as Houston, Baylor and Tennessee in guarantee games.
 
"To have our first five at home gives us some continuity with our schedule and gives our guys with some familiarity for where we're at. It's a good opportunity for us against some really good opponents."
 
Both Western Carolina and Lindenwood will come into Lake Charles with 1-2 records while Lamar will carry a 2-1 mark into the MTE.
 
McNeese opened up the season with a 110-54 win over Champion Christian for its first season opening home game in 10 years. The Cowboys followed with a 75-58 loss at Tulane in their last outing.
 
"We're still learning a lot," said Aiken. "John John (Johnathan) Massie's production has taken a pretty significant jump from last year. He's going to be a tone setter for us offensively as much as he was defensively for us last year.
 
"Christian (Shumate) is continuing his growth and is good to see. Zach (Scott) didn't shoot it great the other night and hasn't been in rhythm the first two games but is shooting it really well in practice."
 
Aiken says the post positions are solidified with Malachi Rhodes and Ty McMillan as well as Dinojahe Thomas.
 
Three Cowboys are averaging double-figures in scoring through the first two games, led by Shumate's 13 points to go along with 9.5 rebounds. Massie is chipping in with 12.5 points per game while Scott is averaging 11 points a contest.
 
Noteworthy:
• McNeese is ranked No. 1 in the Southland Conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.22), assists per game (16.5), bench points per game (41.5), scoring margin (19.5), scoring offense (84.0), three-point attempts per game (27.0), turnover margin (7.0), rebounding margin (6.5).
• G Trae English is No. 1 in the league in assist/turnover ratio at 4.0.
• F Christian Shumate is 2^nd in the conference in FG percentage (64.7), double-doubles (1), rebounds per game (9.5), defensive rebounds per game (7.0).
• F Malachi Rhodes is No. 2 in the league in offensive rebounds per game (4.0)
• McNeese is playing four of its first five games at home for the first time since the 1995-96 season when McNeese hosted Houston, Prairie View, Lamar and Texas A&M in the first five to start the season.
• The Cowboys will play Western Carolina and Lindenwood for the first time in history and will meet up for the 112^th time against Lamar.
• McNeese Director of Operations Robert Burlingham is a graduate of Western Carolina.