PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Fresh off its magical win over 5^th-seeded Clemson to notch the first-ever NCAA Tournament win, the 12^th-seeded McNeese Cowboys will take on No. 4 Purdue at 12:10 ET on Saturday for the rights to advance to the Sweet 16 next week in Indianapolis.
 
McNeese, 28-6 overall, dominated 12^th-ranked Clemson from tip to the final horn, providing a more physical and quicker element to the Tigers. Purdue, 23-11, defeated High Point 75-63 in Thursday's first round game.
 
The Cowboys' win over Clemson was the first for the program over a ranked team while head coach Will Wade notched his 50^th victory at McNeese.
 
Game Day Notebook:
• McNeese will be looking to advance to the Sweet 16 to give the Southland Conference its first team in the regional semifinal for the first time since 1985 and only the third time in league history (Lamar in 1980, Louisiana Tech in 1985).
• The Cowboys are the first league team to advance to the second round since Abilene Christian in 2021.
• Winners of 12 straight, the 2nd-longest current streak in the NCAA (Houston with 14).
• With 28 wins, McNeese is one of 16 teams in the nation with 28 or more wins.
• The Cowboys are a No. 12 seed for the second straight year.
• One of only three current Southland teams to win an NCAA Tournament game (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 2023 First Four; Northwestern State 2006 1st Round and 2001 Opening Round).
• McNeese is now 1-3 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• Three of the Cowboys' opponents this season are in the NCAA Tournament - Alabama, Mississippi State and Liberty.
• Purdue is ranked No. 22 in both the AP poll Coaches Polls... McNeese received 4 votes in the AP poll.
• The Boilermakers will be the fourth nationally-ranked opponent for McNeese this season (L, 72-64 at #2 Alabama; L, 66-63 vs. #25 Mississippi State; W, 69-67 vs. #12/13 Clemson).
• McNeese is one of just four teams in the NCAA (Duke, Houston, St. John's) with only one loss since January 1 (20-1).
• The Cowboys have won 23 of their last 24 games going back to December 22.
• Saturday's game will be the second meeting in the series against Purdue (0-1).