LAKE CHARLES – Coming off a four-game road trip that saw McNeese go 2-2 during that span, including a convincing 81-60 win at UAB on Tuesday, the Cowboys return home on Saturday to begin a four-game home stand, first, hosting UT Martin at 2 p.m. on Joe Dumars Court in the Legacy Center.
 
The game will broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
McNeese (6-2) is out to its best start in 47 years. The last time a McNeese team was 6-2 was back in 1976-77 when that squad won nine of its first 11 games.
 
UT Martin (5-3) had its two-game winning streak snapped on Thursday night at Rice by a 98-78 score. The Skyhawks are 1-3 away from home this season.
 
Saturday's game will be the second meeting between the two teams in the series. UTM won last year's first meeting by a score of 86-83.
 
Game Promotions:
• First 500 fans will receive a free taco from Rosita's No. 2.
• Toys For Tots - $5 admission with a toy donation.
• Frosty's Margaritas
 
Coaches:
• Brandon Chambers will be the acting head coach for the Cowboys on Saturday for the fifth and final game this year. Chambers has posted a 2-2 record with wins over VCU and Champion Christian.
• UTM is coached by Ryan Ridder who is in his third season at UTM (32-39) and 10^th season overall (175-112).
 
Players to Watch
McNeese:
• G Shahada Wells leads the team and is ranked third in the Southland Conference in scoring with an 18.4 average… coming off a 36-point game at UAB for his second, 30-plus point outing of the season… ranked No. 1 in the SLC and 10^th in NCAA with 57 total field goals made… leading the league in total steals (17) and steals per game (2.4) where he ranks 32^nd and 34^th respectively in the NCAA… 3^rd in SLC in FG shooting at 54.3 percent.
• F Christian Shumate tops the SLC and is 15^th nationally with 10.5 rebounds per game… grabbed 21 boards for a career high at UAB on Tuesday, marking the 6^th-most rebounds in a game in school history… 4^th in the NCAA with 84 total rebounds… has three double-doubles on the year.
• PG Omar Cooper is third in the SLC with 3.6 assists per game and third with 29 total assists… ranked No. 1 in the SLC and 11^th in NCAA with a 4.8 assist/turnover ratio… dished out a career-high seven assists at UAB on Tuesday.
• C Antavion Collum has grabbed 44 rebounds on the season, ranking seventh in the league… averaging 5.5 rebounds per game to rank 13^th in the league… scored 20 points at UAB on Tuesday to mark his first, 20-point game as a Cowboy and just the second in his career… scored double-digits five times on the season.
 
UT Martin:
• G Jordan Sears leads the Skyhawks and is ranked 30^th in the NCAA in scoring with a 20.5 average… also leads the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring and is third in the league in assists (4.5 per game)… scored a career-high 34 points against North Alabama on Nov. 22 in a 105-103 overtime win.
• F Jacob Crews leads the team and is third in the OVC with 9.4 rebounds per game… also tops the team and OVC with 2.9 three-pointers made per game… the 6-foot-8 junior recorded 24 points and 17 rebounds in a win over Brescia and is coming off a 22-point, 7-rebound game at Rice on Thursday.
 
Next Up
• McNeese will be back home on Tuesday night when it hosts Mississippi University for Women at 7 p.m. The Cowboys will return to action on Dec. 13 when they host Southern Mississippi at 7 in the return of head coach Will Wade, who will be making his McNeese debut after serving a 10-game suspension. Four days later, the Cowboys will host UL Lafayette on Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. in the final contest before Christmas.
 
National Attention
• McNeese continues to gain national attention as this week, the Cowboys received 20 votes in the CollegeInsider Mid-Major Top 25 poll… the poll was released one day before McNeese's win at UAB.
• Andy Katz, a college basketball expert, revealed his first 2024 NCAA Tournament Bracketology predictions on Thursday and his has the Cowboys in as a No. 13 seed playing Gonzaga in the first round.
• G Shahada Wells was named The Field of 68 National Player of the Day in Tuesday's win at UAB… Wells finished with 36 points behind 13 of 20 shooting (4-6 from 3FG range), two assists, three blocked shots and six rebounds.