HAMMOND – Larry Johnson scored a game-high 20 points and McNeese held Southeastern to 39 percent shooting from the field while forcing the Lions into 18 turnovers as the Cowboys captured a 76-66 Southland Conference win here Tuesday night.
 
It was Johnson's second straight 20-point game and seventh on the season as McNeese improved to 17-4 overall and 10-2 in conference play with the win, sweeping the season series against the Lions, who fell to 6-15 and 3-9.
 
The 10-point margin of victory over the Lions on their home court was the largest since a 16-point win in January of 2020.
 
Garwey Dual added 14 points for the Cowboys while Javohn Garcia scored 13 and DJ Richards Jr. 10.
 
McNeese shot 51 percent for the game (25 of 49) and connected on 60 percent in the second half (15 of 25). McNeese knocked down 5 of 15 from three-point range and was 21 for 29 at the free throw line.
 
The Cowboys out-rebounded their opponent for the seventh-straight game, holding a 30-29 advantage with nine of those coming from the offensive end that led to 10 second chance points.
 
McNeese led 36-27 at the half and built as much as a 16-point lead midway through the second half while Southeastern continued to linger.
 
A 7-0 run by the Cowboys early in the second half grew the lead from 47-39 to 54-39 after a Dual three-pointer with 13:20 to play. The lead stayed in double-digits until the Lions clipped it to 75-66 with 20 seconds remaining. Garcia then hit one of two free throws with 17 seconds left to get it back to 10.
 
Makhi Myles scored 16 to lead the Lions.
 
Next up, McNeese will travel to face Lamar on Saturday then will visit Stephen F. Austin on Monday night.