GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman – The nation's No. 1 scoring offense used a relentless defense against George Washington on Sunday as McNeese recorded a season-high 17 steals while turning GW over 24 times, also a season-high, meanwhile four players scored in double-figures as the Cowboys raced to a 92-86 win over the Revolutionaries in the opening game of the 2025 Cayman Islands Classic.
 
Javohn Garcia led the way with 18 points and six steals while Larry Johnson and Garwey Dual added 16 points each. Dual registered six steals and a team-high seven assists. Peitok Machar collected a double-double behind 15 points and 14 rebounds, nine of those on the offensive end.
 
McNeese, now 4-1 and winners of three straight games, led for just over 30 minutes in the game and built as high as an 18-point lead midway through the second half. The Cowboys' quickness and length on defense were troublesome for GW (5-1), who is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
 
After GW scored the first seven points of the game, McNeese turned up the defense and forced turnovers on consecutive possessions that was followed by a Dual fast break layup and a DJ Richards 3-pointer that established a 15-4 run and a 15-11 lead with 14:05 to play in the half.
 
GW answered with a 16-6 run over the next five minutes to build a 27-21 lead following one of Garrett Johnson's five three-point baskets for the game.
 
Machar played a major role in McNeese going into the half with a 47-39 lead. The 6-10 forward brought in four offensive rebounds in the final six minutes that kept possessions alive and with all ending with scores. He ended the first half with nine points and nine rebounds.
 
The Cowboys built their first double-digit lead 15 seconds into the second half when Jacolb Cole-Fredson hit a floating jump shot in the paint to make it 49-39.
 
Garcia knocked down a 3 to make it 54-42 at the 17:28 mark, and after GW sank a 3 to pull back to within eight points, Machar pulled in another offensive board with a put back to get the lead back to 10. Garcia then sank another three to make it 59-46 and following an answer by GW with a three, McNeese scored six straight, four off turnovers, to build a 65-49 lead at the 14:08 mark.
 
Machar added two more points off an offensive board to give the Cowboys a 70-52 lead, their largest of the game.
 
The Cowboys led 76-58 with 10:42 to play after Jerrell Colbert sank a hook shot from the paint. GW started to chip away at the lead at that point and got as close as three points at 80-77 following a Tre Dinkins three-pointer with 3:08 to go.
 
Garcia forced a turnover and fed Johnson for a basket then Dual hit a driving layup to make it 84-79 with 1:40 remaining. McNeese hit 8 of 10 free throws in the final minute to collect the victory in the first-ever meeting with GW.
 
McNeese made 32 of 67 from the field for 48 percent and 5 of 16 from three-point range for 31 percent. At the line, the Cowboys made 23 of 28 for 82 percent. GW hit 46 percent (25-54) of its shots including 12 of 31 (39 percent) from long range and 24 of 30 for 80 percent at the line.
 
GW out-rebounded McNeese 41-30 but the Cowboys only trailed 18-15 in offensive boards. The Cowboys made up for the rebounding disadvantage by forcing 24 turnovers to their eight and McNeese held a 29-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Both Dual and Garcia finished with six steals each while Dual added seven assists.
 
The Cowboys will return to Classic play on Monday night at 6:30 CT against Murray State.