ST. THOMAS, US Virgin Islands – Sincere Parker scored a season-high 31 points , 27 of those in the second half, and McNeese's defense created havoc all game for Longwood, forcing 20 turnovers while scoring 37 points off the miscues as the Cowboys downed the Lancers 84-69 in the semifinal round of the US Virgin Islands Paradise Jam here Sunday.
 
McNeese will play the winner of the Liberty/Kansas State game on Monday night at 7 p.m. CT. That game will be carried live on ESPN+.
 
The win was the third straight for the Cowboys as they improve to 4-2 on the season while Longwood, the defending Southern Conference champion, lost for the first time this season and fell to 6-1.
 
Christian Shumate added 12 points and three Shu Slams while Joe Charles scored 12 points to go along with a team-high six rebounds.
 
The Cowboys connected on a season-high 62 percent from the field (34 for 55), including an eye-popping 78 percent in the second half where they sank 18 of their 23 shots.
 
A total of 52 of the Cowboys' 84 points came in the paint.
 
McNeese also held a 27-25 advantage in rebounds, an area where Longwood won in all but four games last season.
 
The Cowboys led 37-28 at the half and used a 13-0 run two-thirds through the period to grab their first double-digit lead of the game.
 
In the second half, the Cowboys led 39-32 with 17:48 to play when Parker took over. The junior transfer scored 13 of the team's next 15 points, including a stretch of 11 straight, as the lead grew to 54-36 with 12:35 remaining.
 
Shumate's second three-pointer of the game at the 4:17 mark gave McNeese its largest lead of the night at 20 points, 77-57.
 
Longwood scored the game's final five points to make it a 84-69 final.
 
Michael Christmas scored 12 points to lead the Lancers in scoring while Johan Nziemi and Emanuel Richards each scored 11.
 
Longwood hit 21 of 49 for 43 percent from the field and sank 7 of 20 for 35 percent from three-point range.