NATCHITOCHES – McNeese kept its hold atop the Southland Conference standings after Monday night's 92-69 victory over Northwestern State where the Cowboys knocked down a season-high 16 three-point buckets, including six from DJ Richards Jr. who led all scorers with 20 points.
 
The win improved McNeese's record to 10-5 overall and 4-0 in league play while NSU falls to 6-8 and 3-1 in the conference after suffering its first league loss.
 
It was also McNeese's 15^th-consecutive win, extending its school record, and now tied as the fifth-longest in conference history (ULM 1990-91 and 1991-92, and Stephen F. Austin 2019-20).
 
Six Cowboys scored in double-figures, led by Richards' 20. Sincere Parker scored 18 behind 6 of 8 from long range, Christian Shumate added 15 points that included a highlight reel dunk, Quadir Copeland recorded his third double-double behind 13 points and 11 assists, and Joe Charles and Javohn Garcia each scored 12.
 
Garcia was named SLC Player of the Week earlier in the day for his two performances last week when he scored 26 and 24 points respectively in wins over Southeastern and East Texas A&M.
 
Micah Thomas led the Demons with 14 points while Jon Sanders and Addison Patterson each netted 11.
 
McNeese led 43-32 at the half but was in a dog fight through the first 10 minutes where it saw itself trail by 1 a couple of times midway through the first half which marked the first time in league play the Cowboys have trailed.
 
A 15-0 run over a 3 ½-minute span with less than 10 minutes to play put the Cowboys on top 29-15 with just under seven minutes remaining. McNeese knocked down four 3s in that time to open up the game.
 
The Cowboys put things away early in the second half when they opened the frame up with an 22-2 run to build a 65-34 lead. NSU didn't hit its first field goal of the half until the 10:36 mark.
 
McNeese hit 31 of 57 (54.5%) from the field, 16-28 for 57.1 percent from 3-point range, and 14 of 18 for 77.8 percent from the free throw line.
 
NSU sank 21 of 51 from the field (41.2%), 8 of 25 from long range (32%), and 19 of 22 at the line (86.4%).
 
The Cowboys had a 32-26 advantage in rebounding and dished out 19 assists on their 31 total makes. McNeese also forced 13 turnovers and scored 12 points off those.
 
McNeese will return to action on Saturday when it hosts Nicholls at 4 p.m. That game will followed a 1 o'clock contest between the two women's teams.