CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Off to its best start in 51 years, the 4-0 McNeese Cowboys will begin a four-game challenging road trip on Saturday when they visit Western Carolina at 3 p.m.
 
The game will broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
The Cowboys are playing the Catamounts (3-0) as a return trip from last season when WCU played in the McNeese MTE.
 
The 4-0 start is the best since the 1972-73 season and a McNeese team hasn't started 5-0 since 1958-59.
 
Assistant coach Brandon Chambers will be acting as McNeese's head coach for the third time this season. Chambers (2-0) has led the Cowboys to victories over VCU and Champion Christian and will coach the Cowboys against Louisiana Tech next Wednesday and then Dec. 2 at home against UT Martin.
 
McNeese has four players averaging in double-figures, led by Shahada Wells with 13.5 points per game. Christian Shumate is averaging a double-double at 12.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest. DJ Richard Jr. is sinking 12.5 while Antavion Collum is scoring at a 10.8 clip.
 
Shumate leads the nation with three double-doubles on the year and has 24 in his career, seven shy of the school record of 31 held by Desharick Guidry.
 
Two of WCU's wins have come against Notre Dame and Middle Tennessee. The Catamounts have been picked for a second place finish in the Southern Conference this season while three players were named to the preseason all-conference team – Vonterius Woolbright, preseason player of the year; Tre Jackson and Russell Jones Jr.
 
Woolbright leads the team in scoring with a 20.7 average to go along with 10.3 rebounds.
 
OPENING TIP
• For the first time in school history, McNeese has won each of its first four games by double-digits and by an average margin of 37.0.
• The Cowboys rank 4th in the nation with 15 steals per game and are 7th with a 10.8 turnover margin.
• Coming off the bench, Omar Cooper is 2nd in the SLC and 14th in the NCAA with 11 total steals.
• Cooper also leads the SLC with 16 total assists, 2nd with 2.8 steals per game, and is 4th with 4.0 assists per game.
• McNeese leads the SLC in 3-point shooting, knocking down 41.5 percent from behind the arc.
• The Cowboys are averaging 8.5 threes per game and 20.5 attempts per contest.
• Individually, DJ Richards Jr. tops the conference and is 33rd in nation in 3FG shooting with a 57.9 percent aim.
• Richards has connected on 11 total 3s on the year, ranking second in the Southland and 28th nationally.
• The Cowboys have had a different scoring leader in each of the first four games.
• Shumate has scored 971 points and pulled down 590 rebounds in his McNeese career.