McNeese (10-2, 3-1 SLC) at #2/#1 Michigan (11-0, 2-0 B1G)
December 29, 2025 • Crisler Center • Ann Arbor, Michigan
 
Time: 6 p.m. (CT)
Watch: B1G+ (LINK)
Live Stats: (LINK)
 
ANN ARBOR, Michigan – McNeese will close out its non-conference portion of the schedule on Monday night, saving the best team on the schedule for last, when it visits Michigan, the No. 2 team in the nation in the AP poll and No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches poll.
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT) at Michigan's Crisler Center. The game will broadcast live on B1G+ which is available on the internet at a cost of $12.99 per month but can be canceled anytime.
 
The Cowboys (10-2, 3-1 SLC) have been off from competition since a 78-68 win at HCU back on December 15 to improve to 3-1 in Southland Conference play. It marked the fourth straight win for the Cowboys who have now put together two winning streaks of the season of four games or more. It was also the second straight win away from home in an opponent's home arena.
 
Michigan (11-0, 2-0 B1G) is the only high-major team on the Cowboys' schedule this season and is one of six remaining undefeated teams in the nation. The Wolverines will enter the game leading the NCAA in scoring margin with a +29.3 mark while the Cowboys are ranked 12^th at +22.4.
 
Michigan will be the first-ever No. 1 ranked team for McNeese to face in school history. Three times before McNeese has played the No. 2 team, most recently last season against Alabama (L, 72-64). The Cowboys also played No. 2 Michigan State in the 2013-14 season (L, 98-56) and at No. 2 Texas in 2002-03 (L, 97-59).
 
Following Monday night's game, the Cowboys will return home on Friday night when they host Lamar at 6 p.m. in a nationally televised game on CBS Sports Net. That will kick-off the first of four straight home games for McNeese.
 
SERIES vs. MICHIGAN
• Monday night's game will be just the second meeting in the series with McNeese winning the initial matchup, 87-76, on Dec. 29, 2023.
• The Cowboys went on to finish 30-4 that season, winning the Southland Conference regular season and tournament championships and playing in its first NCAA Tournament since the 2002 season.
• The win marked the first-ever for the Cowboys against a member of the Big Ten Conference (1-9 all-time).
• Two McNeese players who played in that game are currently on this year's team - Javohn Garcia (starter in the previous matchup and scored 5 pts in 31 minutes) and DJ Richards Jr. (came off the bench to score 15 points behind four 3-point baskets).
• Two current Wolverine players played against the Cowboys two years ago - graduates Nimari Burnett and Will Tschetter. Burnett started in that game and has started every game this season and is averaging 8.4 points per game while making 41 percent from three-point range. Tschetter came off the bench last year and scored 11 points against the Cowboys. This year he's started in one game but has played in all, averaging 5.3 points a game.
 
6 COWBOYS RANKED TOP 15 PLAYERS IN SLC BY EVAN MIYA ANALYTICS
• According to Evan Miya's analytics, McNeese possesses six of the top 11 players in the Southland Conference, including the top three.
• Larry Johnson is ranked No. 1 with a 6.51 BPR (Bayesian Performance Rating) while Garwey Dual is 2nd with a 5.81 and Javohn Garcia is 3rd with a 5.51 rating.
• Johnson's rating also ranks him No. 72 among all Division I players.
• Fifth on the list is Carl Cherenfant with a 2.89 rating followed by Tyshawn Archie at No. 9 with a 2.67 and DJ Richards at No. 11 with a 2.25.
 
EVAN MIYA SLC PLAYER RATINGS (Top 15)
1. Larry Johnson, McNeese         6.51
2. Garwey Dual, McNeese          5.81
3. Javohn Garcia, McNeese         5.51
4. Jerald Colonel, SFA                 4.68
5. Carl Cherenfant, McNeese      2.89
6. Tahj Staveskie, UIW                2.84
7. Keon Thompson, SFA              2.80
8. Andrew Holifield, Lamar         2.69
9. Tyshawn Archie, McNeese      2.67
10. Narit Chotikavanic, SFA         2.41
11. DJ Richards Jr., McNeese       2.25
12. Chrishawn Christmas, SFA     2.15
13. Davion Bailey, UIW               2.08
14. Trent Johnson, HCU              1.74
15. Jeremy Elyzee, SLU               1.70
 
TALKING POINTS
• McNeese is 10-2 to start the season for the second time in the last three years while its 10 wins through 12 games matches the 2023-24 team with the best start in school history as a Division I program.
• Won four-straight games for the second time this season and has won its last two games when playing away from home.
• The Cowboys are 7-1 on the season in non-conference games and 5-1 vs. Division I non-conference opponents and have won five straight.
• McNeese's guards are making 51.4% of their field goals on the season (290-for-564).
• Larry Johnson has started the last four games, the first four of his career, and is averaging 16.3 ppg while making 53% (26-49) from the field during that span.
• Johnson is averaging 16.6 ppg for the season, tied for 10th in the NCAA among freshmen.
• Johnson has scored double figures in all but two games on the year and has netted 20 or more points four times, including 22 points in his last game at HCU.
• In coming off the bench the last four games, Tyshawn Archie is averaging 15.3 ppg and scored a career-highs in back-to-back games - 18 at Rhode Island and 24 vs. East Texas A&M.
• The Cowboys lead the Southland Conference in 16 stat categories, including scoring offense (88.9), scoring defense (65.4), and scoring margin (23.5), which the Cowboys are ranked No. 8 in the nation.
 
WINNING DNA
• Since the start of the 2023-24 season, McNeese has compiled a 68-13 overall record, including a 39-3 Southland Conference record over the last three seasons.
• McNeese has won 18 straight home games dating back to last season with the last loss coming against Santa Clara last December.
• 56-1 record when leading at the half over the last three years, 7-0 this season.
 
SUCCESS WHEN SCORING 80+
• McNeese is 34-0 since the start of the 2023-24 season when scoring 80 points or more.
• The Cowboys have scored 80 or more in six games this season.
 
TAKEAWAY TRAIN
• McNeese leads the Southland Conference and is ranked 2nd in the NCAA in turnover margin at +8.1 and is 3rd in the nation by forcing 18.4 turnovers per game.
• The Cowboys have forced 20 or more turnovers six times and 10 or more in all 12 games.
• McNeese has forced more turnovers than committed in all 12 games.
 
McNEESE-MICHIGAN SERIES
2nd Meeting - McNeese leads 1-0
 
McNEESE vs. B1G
11th Matchup (1-9 all-time)
12/29/23 at Michigan             W, 87-76
11/25/20 at Nebraska             L, 102-55
11/13/19 at Wisconsin           L, 83-63
11/11/16 at #15 Purdue         L, 109-65
12/12/15 at Indiana                L, 105-60
11/8/13 at #2 Mich. State      L, 98-56
1989 vs. #3 Illinois                  L, 77-71 (NCAA 1st Round)
1988 at #7 Iowa                       L, 77-56
1981 at Ohio State                  L, 63-60