LAKE CHARLES – McNeese capped off its first perfect home regular season in 22 years on Monday night with an 87-69 win over HCU, then stuck around to celebrate with the Poke Nation faithful with a Southland Conference trophy presentation and net-cutting ceremony as the Cowboys hoisted the hardware for the first time in 13 years.
 
Shahada Wells scored 24 points and DJ Richards Jr. added 21 to lead four Cowboys in double-figures. Javohn Garcia sank 16 points while CJ Felder added 10 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double on the year.
 
The win improved McNeese's overall record to 27-3 and 16-1 in conference play. The Cowboys will visit New Orleans on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the regular season finale and an attempt to match the school record with 17 league wins.
 
Wells, one of four seniors to be honored during a pregame ceremony, scored 15 of his 24 points in the first half while Richards, who connected on five three-pointers in the game, hit a clutch 3 with 3.8 seconds to play in the first half to give the Cowboys a 39-36 lead at the break and some momentum after the Huskies (6-22, 4-13) put up a tough battle in the opening 20 minutes.
 
HCU kept things interesting through the first three minutes of the second half and cut the deficit to two points at 43-41. McNeese answered with a 9-0 run that saw Garcia sink five of those points in back-to-back buckets and lifting the lead to 52-41 at the 15:31 mark.
 
The lead continued to widen when Richards Jr. popped a 3 to make it 61-44 with 13:55 to play then a trey by Wells with 7:32 left on the clock gave McNeese its first 20-point lead on the night at 74-54.
 
The Cowboys scored five straight late in the game, beginning with a Roberts Berze 3 with 5:16 on the clock and followed up with a Wells fast-break layup off a Richards Jr. steal to make it an 84-60 lead with 4:27 remaining.
 
McNeese sank 30 of 65 from the field for 46% and hit 12 of 30 from long range for 40%. HCU, who was led in scoring by Marcus Greene's 23 points, made 27 of 57 for 47% but connected on just 6 of 24 from long range.
 
The Cowboys dominated the glass with a 43-29 advantage including 15 of those 43 pulled down from the offensive glass where they sank 18 second-chance points.
 
Notebook:
• Monday's win marked the eighth time in school history the team finished the regular-season unbeaten at home and the first time since 2001-02 when the Cowboys finished 13-0. The Cowboys were also unbeaten in the following seasons: 1985-86 (14-0), 1974-75 (12-0), 1973-74 (11-0), 1967-68 (14-0), 1956-57 (13-0), and 1951-52 (10-0).
• The 18-point win marked the 20^th victory on the year of 10 points or more, ranking as the second-most in the NCAA.
• McNeese never trailed in the second half, marking the 23^rd time this season the Cowboys haven't trailed in the final 20 minutes.
• The Cowboys continue to lead the nation in scoring margin with an updated 18.8 mark.
• McNeese dished out 23 assists on 30 made baskets and had four players record 4 or more assists.
• Wells' 24-point game marked his ninth of the season scoring 20 or more and his 24^th double-digit game on the year.
• Richard Jr.'s 21-point game was his second 20-point contest on the year.
• It's the 20^th time this year a Cowboy has scored 20 or more on the season.
• Christian Shumate's five rebounds on the night lifted his season total to 138, moving him up the single-season record list into the top 10 at No. 9.
• Shumate now has 834 in his career, ranking him 7^th on the all-time school's list.
• Richards Jr. sank five 3s for the third time this season and increased his 3FG made total to 71 on the year which ranks him tied for 15^th in the record book.
• Wells added three steals in the game and improved his season total to 85 which moved him into a tie for second in the season record book.
• Wells also dished out six assists to increase his season total to 139 which is tied for 8^th in the record book.