COMMERCE, Texas – McNeese got off to a quick start once again, built by an early double-digit lead, and never looked back as the Cowboys cruised to a 75-56 win over East Texas A&M, setting a new school record for their 14^th straight Southland Conference win.
 
The Cowboys improved to 9-5 overall on the season and 3-0 in Southland Conference play while East Texas A&M fell to 2-12 overall and 0-3 in league play.
 
Senior Javohn Garcia came two points shy of tying his career-high for points in a game with 24 against the Lions while earning four rebounds and four assists.
 
Four Cowboys earned 10 or more points led by Garcia, followed by Sincere Parker with 14, Quadir Copeland at 13, and Joe Charles with 10 on the day.
 
McNeese started off strong by taking an early 18-7 lead on a 14-3 scoring run before leading by 18 at the half 41-23. The Pokes outscored the Lions 34-33 in the latter half for the 19-point victory.
 
The blue and gold outshot East Texas A&M 51% to 31% from the field, making 28 of its 55 shots. The Cowboys tallied 42 rebounds ( 31 defensive, 11 offensive) and earned nine second-chance points.
 
Yusef Salih led the Lions with an 18-point effort, the only player to score double-digits for them. 
 
McNeese remains on the road, heading to Natchitoches, Louisiana to challenge Northwestern State Monday at 6:30 p.m. before returning home on Saturday to host Nicholls.
 
Notebook:
• McNeese has yet to trail through three league games this season. (New Orleans, Southeastern, East Texas A&M)
• McNeese is 3-0 to begin Southland Conference play for the second straight season.
• The Cowboys have improved their record to 20-1 in Southland Conference games over the last two seasons excluding the SLC Tournament.
• Monday's win was the 14^th straight over a conference team, breaking McNeese's school record for most consecutive league wins (13 from 2001-02) and tied the 7^th-longest streak in conference history.
• McNeese captured its 391st all-time Southland Conference win, extending its league record.
• McNeese went on a 14-3 scoring run within the first 10 minutes to take an early 18-7 lead.
• The Cowboys took an 18-point advantage into the half.
• Javohn Garcia tallied 16 points, two rebounds, and one assist in the first half of the game.
• Garcia kicked off the game shooting 7-9, shooting 2-for-4 behind the three-point line.
• The Cowboys kicked off the second half with a 10-3 run over the Lions.
• Garcia's 24 points were just two short of his career-high 26 against Southeastern set on Monday. 
• Garcia recorded his third 20-point game of the season and second straight.
• Shumate's six rebounds give him 956 in his career, seven shy from matching Frank Glenn's 963 for fourth on the McNeese career record list.
• The Cowboys have held 10 of their last 11 opponents to less than 70 points scored a game.