LAKE CHARLES – Undisputed Champions.
 
McNeese locked up the outright Southland Conference championship and No. 1 overall seed in the conference tournament when an 83-62 win over Nicholls Saturday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd of 4,211 at the Legacy Center.
 
It's the first Southland Conference title for McNeese in 13 years (2010-11) and the eighth in school history.
 
The Cowboys improved to 26-3 overall and 15-1in league play after winning their seventh straight game. The win also improved the Cowboys' home record to a perfect 15-0 and matching the record for most home wins in a season (1985-86, 2010-11).
 
Nicholls, who was in a tie for second place with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi entering the contest, dropped to 16-13 and 11-5 and are in third place in the standings.
 
Five Cowboys scored in double-figures, led by Javohn Garcia with 17 points. Shahada Wells added 16 points, six assists and three steals while D.J. Richards Jr. scored 14 and CJ Felder 12.
 
Christian Shumate recorded his 11^th double-double on the season and the 32^nd in his career to tie the McNeese career record held by Desharick Guidry. Shumate pulled down 13 rebounds and added 11 points, the final two points coming off a layup with 21 seconds to play to wrap up the double-double.
 
Felder added nine rebounds, blocked two shots and recorded three steals.
 
McNeese never trailed in the game and held a 39-22 lead at the half. The Cowboys were suffocating on the defensive side of the ball, holding Nicholls to just 33% shooting from the field and three-point range in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Colonels were coming off one of their best three-point shooting performances in school history after knocking down 18 of 26 against UIW behind the arc. McNeese made it difficult for the visitors the entire game as Nicholls shot just 35% from the field (20-57) and 30% from long range (9-30).
 
McNeese built as much as a 21-point lead in the second half and never felt threatened even after The Colonels' Diante Smith sank three straight 3s to pull his team to within 10 points at 70-60 with 4:49 remaining.
 
The Cowboys answered immediately with an 11-0 run that was started by a Mike Saunders Jr. three. Shumate scored his eighth and ninth points of the night off a layup with 1:20 to play to make it 81-60.
 
McNeese connected on 52% for the game (28-54) and 43% from behind the arc (6-14) with Garcia a perfect 3 for 3 from that range. The Cowboys sank 60% in the second half, hitting 15 of 25 shots.
 
McNeese also dominated the glass, pulling down a 42-30 advantage including 16 offensive rebounds off 26 total misses
 
Smith led the Colonels with 29 points while Jamal West Jr. scored 10.
 
McNeese will close out its home regular season slate on Monday night against HCU. Prior to the game, the Cowboys will honor its four seniors – Wells, Felder, Antavion Collum and Roberts Berze.
 
After the game, fans are asked to remain for the Southland Conference trophy presentation by league commissioner Chris Grant, and the net cutting ceremony.