LAKE CHARLES – McNeese men's basketball returns to the Legacy Center on Tuesday night when it hosts its most prestigious opponent in Legacy Center history when Santa Clara pays a visit.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and tickets are still available. The game will broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Cowboys (4-3) will carry a 20-game home winning streak into the game, currently the nation's 4
th-longest streak and coming off a 2-1 showing at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam where they fell by four points to Liberty in the championship game.
Santa Clara (3-5) is a member of the West Coast Conference that also includes members like Gonzaga, Saint Mary's, San Francisco, Oregon State and Washington State. The Broncos went 1-1 at last week's Acrisure Invitational where they defeated TCU 69-52 before falling 76-69 to Washington.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the Cowboys and Broncos and the second straight year McNeese has faced a member of the WCC. Last year the Cowboys fell to Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE
McNeese will likely field the same starting five it has the last four games with
Omar Cooper (4.2 apg),
Javohn Garcia (11.9 ppg),
Brandon Murray (7.9 ppg),
Christian Shumate (9.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and
Joe Charles (6.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg) with
Sincere Parker, who's second in the league in scoring with a 16.9 average, coming off the bench.
The Broncos are expected to start 6-1, 195 guard Carlos Stewart Jr. (10.3 ppg), 6-7, 200 guard Adama-Alpha Bal (12.6 ppg), 6-7, 220 forward Elijah Mahi (13.1 ppg), 6-11, 215 forward Johnny O'Neil (5.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg), and 7-0, 240 center Christoph Tilly (11.3 ppg).
COWBOYS NO. 18 IN LATEST MID-MAJOR POLL
McNeese fell five spots to No. 18 in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. The Cowboys continue to be the only team to represent the Southland Conference in the poll. Tuesday night's opponent, Santa Clara, is receiving votes.
Liberty, who defeated the Cowboys in the title game at the Paradise Jam, is ranked No. 7 while other opponents – South Dakota State and Longwood are receiving votes.
