SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – McNeese basketball head coach Will Wade warned the first few games of the season would be a period to get the new group of players acclimated to each other.
 
That proved to be true on Monday at The Field of 68 Season Opener Showcase where South Dakota State held off the talented Cowboys, 80-73, to open up the 2024-25 season.
 
Alyn Breed made his McNeese debut by scoring a game-high 18 points while Javohn Garcia added 15 and Christian Shumate 11.
 
McNeese made just 39 percent of its shots from the field, hitting 23 of 59, and sank 7 of 26 from long range for 27 percent. The Cowboys were outrebounded by a 43-29 margin including 12-8 on the offensive glass.
 
The Jackrabbits, the defending Summit League champions, were led by an 18-point performance from Joe Saylor while Oscar Cluff and Owen Larson each scored 14. Stoney Hadnot added 12 to round out the double-figure scorers.
 
Larson and Sayler combined to hit 8 of 16 from 3-point range while Larson's trey with 42 seconds to play proved to be the dagger as the Cowboys were attempting to rally for the late game win.
 
Overall, SDSU made 46 percent from the field (28-61) and 12 of 35 from long range for 34 percent. In the second half, the Jackrabbits made 57 percent of their shots (16-28).
 
The game was tied 33-33 at the half when McNeese got back-to-back three-point baskets from DJ Richards, who finished with nine points on the night.
 
The Cowboys scored the first six points of the second half behind 3s from Breed and Garcia but SDSU rallied back to tie the game at 41-41 with 17:10 to play following a Larson fast-break layup.
 
A couple of free throws and a Joe Charles dunk put McNeese back on top 45-41 and the lead was 48-46 at the 15:01 mark after a couple of Richards freebies.
 
The Jackrabbits answered with an 8-0 run, started by a 3 from Jackson, and led 54-58 with 13:18 to play. The lead grew to 59-59 three minutes later and was 66-57 with 7:36 remaining when the Cowboys began to claw back.
 
Charles and Garcia sank consecutive 3s to pull McNeese to within 66-63, then a few minutes later and trailing 75-72, the Cowboys saw four straight jumpers fall off the mark in an attempt to pull to within 1 or tie the game.
 
But on the fourth miss and after an offensive rebound by Brandon Murray, Shumate was sent to the line where he made 1 of 2 and cut the gap to 75-73 with 1:29 to play.
 
Charles pulled in the offensive rebound on Shumate's miss and fired up a three-pointer that was off the mark. Shumate grabbed the rebound and had an open look for a three that missed with 1:06 to play.
 
SDSU got the rebound and Larson sank a three with 42 seconds to play that gave the Jackrabbits a 78-73 advantage, then added another basket after a McNeese miss with 17 seconds to play.
 
Next up, McNeese will open its home slate on Thursday night at 7:30 against Biblical Studies in the second game of a double-header with the Cowgirls.