LAKE CHARLES – McNeese had its three-game winning streak come to an end here Saturday afternoon after Southland Conference co-leader Texas A&M-Corpus Christi dominated the second half for a 77-54 win and beating the Cowboys for the 15th straight time.
 
The loss dropped the Cowboys to 8-20 overall and 5-10 in league play while the Islanders improved to 19-9 and 12-3 and moved into sole possession of first place thanks to New Orleans beating Northwestern State 68-65.
 
And with the Privateers winning and UIW losing at Nicholls, McNeese is currently in a three-way tie for the eighth and final spot for the postseason tournament with UIW and UNO. Lamar and HCU played each other Saturday night as the loser will fall into that tie as well with just three games remaining.
 
McNeese trailed 38-32 at the half and played well for most of the first 20 minutes, leading 29-26 after a Harwin Francois three-pointer with 4:41 to play. The Islanders closed out the half on a 12-3 run then scored the first four points of the second half to build their first double-digit lead at 42-32.
 
The Cowboys didn't sink their first field goal of the second half until Johnathan Massie made three of his game-high 20 points with 15:42 on the clock to cut the Corpus lead to 50-37. McNeese seemed sluggish in the second half and was unable to get any offensive rhythm going as the Islanders continued to build on their lead and open the game up.
 
AMCC's Trevian Tennyson led the way with 23 points while De'Lazarus Keys and Terrion Murdix each scored 14.
 
Christian Shumate added 16 for the Cowboys to join Massie as the only double-figure scorers in the game.
 
McNeese connected on just 31 percent (19-61) from the field and was held to 26 percent (6-23) in the second half, including 1 of 10 from long range in the final 20 minutes. AMCC sank 25 of 55 (45.5 percent) from the field and 6 of 15 from long range for 40 percent.
 
McNeese will play its next two games on the road beginning Thursday night at HCU and following with a Saturday afternoon contest at Southeastern. The Cowboys will play their final regular season game at home on Wednesday, March 1 against New Orleans.