LAKE CHARLES – McNeese used a 19-6 run over the span of five minutes before the second media timeout in the second half to squash an early second half run by Lamar and went on to cruise to an 88-69 win over the Cardinals and take over sole possession of first place in the Southland Conference while capturing the first go-around of the Battle of the Border on Monday night.
 
The weather outside of the Legacy Center was bitter and cold but the comfortable confines inside the arena heated up for a second half that saw McNeese (15-2, 4-0 SLC) sink 52% from the field including 56% from three-point range.
 
Christian Shumate recorded his seventh double-double on the year and 27^th in his career with a team-high 21 points and 15 rebounds while CJ Felder reeled in his first double-double on the season behind 10 points and 10 boards.
 
Shahada Wells was, well, Wells with producing 19 points, seven rebounds, nine assists and six steals. He ignited a 15-2 run with the first of two three-pointers during the run that saw McNeese go from a 47-45 deficit with 17:16 to play in the second half, to a 60-49 lead at the 13:10 mark. He added his third trey a minute later to give the Cowboys a 64-50 lead.
 
Lamar (9-8, 3-1) answered with a three-pointer by Ja'Sean Jackson to cut the margin to 64-53 but McNeese kept the Cardinals from getting any closer and grew the lead to as many as 21 points with under 30 seconds to play.
 
Chris Pryor led three double-figure Cardinals' scorers with 19 points as B.B. Knight scored 13 and Cody Pennebaker 10.
 
Shumate, Wells and Felder were three of five Cowboy players to score in double-figures. Javohn Garcia added 17 points behind 3 of 4 shooting from behind the arc, and DJ Richards Jr. scored 14 points while connecting on 3 of 6 from long range.
 
McNeese led 41-35 at the half. Lamar stormed out of the gate in the second half on an 8-0 run as back-to-back 3s by Pryor and Terry Anderson gave the Cardinals a 43-41 lead. A Pryor layup with 17:16 to play put Lamar up 47-45, the last lead Lamar would hold. Wells' first three of the night put McNeese on top for good at 48-47 just 13 seconds later.
 
The Cowboys connected on 47 percent on the night, hitting 26 of 55 shots, and made 11 of 21 for 52 percent from 3-point range. McNeese was outstanding at the free throw line, sinking 25 of 28.
 
Lamar hit 23 of 56 for 41 percent on the night, 12 of 29 for 41 percent from three-point range, and 11 of 15 for 73 percent at the line.
 
McNeese held a 37-31 rebounding advantage and outscored the Cardinals 28-16 in the paint.
 
Next up, McNeese will hit the road for its next two games, next Saturday at UIW then a Monday night contest at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, a game that will broadcast live on ESPNU.
 
Postgame Notes:
• 4-0 in conference for first time since 1973-74 when that team won its first six; and just 2nd time in school history to start 4-0.
• One of six schools in the nation with a 10-game or better winning streak.
• Shumate now with 716 career rebounds moving him into 13th all-time in school history.
• 15 wins most since winning 15 in 2019-20 and haven't won 16 since 2011-12 when that team won 17 on the season.
• Nine home wins are the most since winning a Legacy Center record 10 games in 2019-20.
• Shumate recorded his 27^th double-double in his career, four short of the school record of 31 held by Desharick Guidry.
• Cincinnati and Utah transfer Mike Saunders Jr. made his debut on Monday night and scored two points with two rebounds, three assists and a steal in 17:25 of action.
• McNeese is now 10-0 when the starting five consists of Cooper, Garcia, Wells, Shumate and Column.
• With Garcia's 3-for-4 showing from 3FG range on the night, he's now made 7 of 9 from behind the arc in the last two games and 8 of 13 in SLC games.