LAKE CHARLES – McNeese will play the second of three straight home games on Saturday when it hosts Northwestern State a 4 p.m. in the Legacy Center.
 
The Cowboys (17-6, 11-1 SLC) are back to a three-game lead in the Southland Conference standings following last Monday's thrilling 67-65 win over UIW and a Lamar loss at Southeastern.
 
Northwestern State will bring a 10-12 overall mark and 7-5 spot in the conference as they're currently tied for fifth place with HCU.
 
Four teams are tied for second place and chasing the Cowboys – Lamar, Southeastern, Nicholls and A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
MCNEESE CONTINUES HOME STAND AGAINST NSU ON SATURDAY
• McNeese continues its three-game home stand on Saturday when it hosts Northwestern State for the second match-up of the season between the two teams.
• The Cowboys defeated the Demons 92-69 back on January 6 in Natchitoches in a game that saw McNeese drain a season-high 16 three-point baskets with 6 of those coming from DJ Richards Jr. who sank 6 of 7 on his way to 20 points.
• McNeese is 17-6 on the season and 11-1 in league play and has a 3-game lead in the conference standings over four other teams.
• Northwestern State is 10-12 overall and 7-5 in league play and is in a tie for sixth place with HCU.
• Saturday will be the 141st meeting in the series with McNeese holding a 71-69 lead.
• The Cowboys have won three straight against the Demons and 7 of the last 8.
• Cowboys' head coach Will Wade is 5-0 all-time against NSU, 3-0 at McNeese and 2-0 when at LSU.
 
BROADCAST BULLETS
• McNeese is ranked 8th in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll and 4th in McKinney's Mid-Major poll.
• The Cowboys' 3-game lead in the league standings is the largest margin in all of the Division I conferences.
• In their 17 wins, the Cowboys have held 15 opponents to under 70 points and 5 under 60... only three teams have scored more than 70 (Nicholls 71, 1/11; AMCC 73, 1/27; Nicholls 71, 2/1).
• The Cowboys are 9-1 in the Legacy Center this season and 6-0 in conference games.
• Winners of 16-straight home conference games dating back to the season finale of the 2022-23 season, and 18-1 when including last year's two tournament wins.
• McNeese is 27-1 overall at home over the last 2 seasons.
• The Cowboys are 29-2 in conference play over the last two seasons, and 15-0 in home league games during that span.
 
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE THE LEGACY CENTER
• McNeese is 9-1 at home this season including 5-0 in home conference games.
• The Cowboys have won 7-straight at home overall and 16-consecutive wins in league play dating back to the end of the 2022-23 season, 18-straight with the two tournament wins included.
• The Cowboys are 27-1 at home over the last two seasons.
• Top the Southland Conference in attendance with an average of 3,300 fans per game, nearly 2,000 more average than the next team.
• McNeese's 75% arena capacity rate ranks in the top 40 among all Division I programs and is the 12th-highest among all mid-majors.
• In 10 home games this season, the Cowboys are outscoring opponents by an 18.3 margin (81.5-63.2).
• 6 of the 9 wins have been by double-digits with four of those by 20 points or more.
 
CHASING MILESTONES
• Javohn Garcia needs 9 points for 1,000 in his career (991 total).
• DJ Richards Jr. is 76 points away from 1,000 (924) and 4 three-pointers made from 200 in his career (196).
• Brandon Murray is 63 points away from his career 1,000th point.
• Joe Charles needs 46 rebounds to get to 700 in his career (654).
• Bryant Selebangue pulled down his 500th career rebound against UTRGV and now has 508 in his career.
• Will Wade's next win will be his 40th at McNeese.
• McNeese has won a league-record 397 conference games all-time.
 
NOTES ON THE POKES
• 15-1 record when leading at half and 9-0 when leading at half in conference games.
• 93 points scored in the win over UTRGV are the most scored against a D1 opponent this season and the 3rd-most under Will Wade over the last two seasons (102 vs. UNO, 1/27/24; 105 at HCU, 2/12/25).
• Made 12 three-pointers in back-to-back games (24-51 for .471 during that span) and ranking as the second-highest made during league play (16 at Northwestern State).
• McNeese has held 10 of its 12 conference opponents to 8 made 3s or fewer.
• 10-1 when shooting 50% or better in 2nd half for the season; 4-0 at 60% or better in 2nd half.
• Shot 50% or better in 2nd half in 8 of 12 SLC games (7-1).
• The 11.9 scoring advantage on the season ranks 25th in the NCAA.
• McNeese has a 15.8 scoring advantage in conference games.
• Javohn Garcia has scored 991 career points, needing 9 more to reach the 1,000 milestone.
• Garcia has scored double-figures in 5 straight games and in 11 of the last 12.
• Quadir Copeland has dished out 3 or more assists in five straight games.
• DJ Richards Jr. has made 133 threes in his McNeese career, ranking 13th all-time in school history.
• Brandon Murray has scored double-figures 3 of the last 4 games.
• In SLC games only, McNeese leads the conference in scoring offense (78.2 ppg), defense (63.5 ppg) and scoring margin (14.7).