LAKE CHARLES – McNeese used a 17-7 second half run behind four straight three-pointers from sophomore guard Trae English, then held off a late Lamar run as the Cowboys defeated the Cardinals 66-57 in the final game of the McNeese Multi-Team Event on Sunday afternoon.
 
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Cowboys, who improved to 2-3 on the year. Lamar lost for the second straight time and fell to 3-3.
 
English led McNeese with 17 points and scored 12 of those off of four straight 3s that occurred just over a two-minute span.
 
"The team did a great job of moving the ball and finding me open and I just knocked them down," said English. "I don't think I've ever hit that many 3s in that short amount of time."
 
Johnathan Massie added 11 points with a team-high four assists while Christian Shumate pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds.
 
The Cowboys connected on 42 percent of their shots on the day (22 for 53) and was much better from three-point range by hitting 12 of 35, including 7 of 17 in the second half.
 
Lamar's Nate Calmese led his team with 19 points while two other Cardinals scored in double-figures.
 
McNeese's defense did a good job forcing Lamar to 39 percent shooting for the game including hitting only 4 of 24 of its shots from long range.
 
The Cowboys led 26-24 at the half. Lamar held its largest lead at 20-16 before McNeese went on an 8-4 run to end the first frame.
 
The two teams will meet at least two more times this season, first on December 31 when they open Southland Conference play against each other in Beaumont, then again on Feb. 2 in the Legacy Center.
 
Sunday's game does not count in the league standings.