COMMERCE, Texas – McNeese will look to keep its place atop the Southland Conference standings when it rings in the new year with a Saturday afternoon visit to East Texas A&M followed by a Monday night contest at Northwestern State.
 
Saturday's game will carry a 2:15 tip-off while Monday night will start at 6:30. Both games will broadcast live on ESPN+ and on the McNeese Radio Network (Power 92.1 FM).
 
McNeese (8-5, 2-0 SLC) has won its first two league games by a total score of 165-112, an average score of 82.5-56, and is coming off a 79-51 rout over Southeastern. Commerce is 2-11 on the season and 0-2 in league play.
 
The Cowboys' projected lineup will include: G Javohn Garcia (12.4 ppg), DJ Richards Jr. (7.4 ppg), Quadir Copeland (7.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Christian Shumate (10.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg), and Joe Charles (9.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg). Brandon Murray and Sincere Parker have each missed the last two games, Murray with a sore knee and Parker with a viral infection. Both of their status is day-to-day.
 
Head coach Will Wade recorded his 30^th win at McNeese in last Monday's win over Southeastern, making him the quickest coach in school history to record his 30^th victory, that coming in his first 37 games.
 
The win over Southeastern was also the 13^th straight conference victory dating back to last season, tying the school record and the eighth-longest in league history. It also marked the 390^th all-time Southland win, improving on its already record.
 
McNeese leads the all-time series against the Lions by an 11-8 margin and has won three straight in the series.