NEW ORLEANS – McNeese celebrated Monday night with the Southland Conference regular season championship and net cutting ceremony after defeating HCU 87-69.
 
It was a record-setting performance as McNeese completed its eighth undefeated regular season home slate by winning its record 16^th home game. It also broke the school record for most wins in a regular season with is 27^th as it improved to 27-3 on the year. The 1955-56 team that holds the record with 33 wins, won 26 regular season games before capturing seven postseason victories on its way to the NAIA National Championship.
 
McNeese will look to add to that win total on Wednesday night when it visits New Orleans to close out regular season play.
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will likely tip closer to 7:30 as it will follow a 5 o'clock game between the two women's teams.
 
The Cowboys wrapped up the overall No. 1 seed in next week's conference tournament after defeating Nicholls this past Saturday. New Orleans (9-21, 4-13) is in a tie with HCU for the eighth and final spot in the league tournament. The Huskies will visit Lamar on Wednesday night.
 
McNeese defeated the Privateers 102-65 in Lake Charles back on January 27 to mark its third straight win in the series.
 
Shahada Well and Javohn Garcia each scored 20 in that contest while Christian Shumate added 17 and DJ Richards Jr. 12.
 
McNeese posted one of its best games of the season in the shooting department, knocking down 62 percent from the field and 55 percent from three-point range.
 
Both Wells and Richards Jr. are coming off 20-point games against HCU in their last outing.
 
The Cowboys will head into the finale ranking in the top 10 in the NCAA in eight different categories including the No. 1 spot in scoring margin (18.8). The Cowboys are also No. 2 in winning percentage (90%), No. 3 in field goal defense (38.4%) and turnover margin (6.6), fourth in scoring defense (61.3), fifth in steals per game (10.4), No. 9 in turnovers forced (16.5), and 10^th in 3-point field goal shooting (38.4).
 
Individually, Wells leads four teams averaging double-digit scoring on the season with a 17.3 mark. Shumate follows with 11.9 points and a league-high 9.5 rebounds per game, Richards with an 11.3 average and Garcia at 11.0.
 
Following Wednesday's game, the Cowboys will not be in action again until Tuesday evening at 5:30 in the Southland Conference Tournament Semifinals.