Cowboys shoot by Demons, 72-63

LAKE CHARLES – McNeese’s perimeter shooting was exceptional, while Northwestern State’s was decidedly not.

That was one of the key factors Saturday afternoon as McNeese shot 52 percent overall and 60 percent on 3-pointers, 30 percent better than normal, and held off visiting NSU 72-63 in a Southland Conference basketball contest.

The Demons hit only 39 percent overall, their season average, and missed eight of 13 free throws to spoil an inspired effort coming off the worst Southland loss in 31 seasons, a 41-pointer Thursday night at Nicholls.

NSU (3-10 overall, 0-2 in the Southland) couldn’t overcome the outside production by 19-point scorers Kaleb LeDoux and James Harvey, who combined for 8-of-11 aim on 3-pointers and 13-of-23 shooting overall for the Cowboys, winners of three straight overall.

“Who would have thought they’d shoot so well from outside? They were very good. We knew they had four shooters capable, but they all stepped up and hurt us. It wasn’t poor defense, it was good shooting,” said Demons’ coach Mike McConathy.

After suffering 26 turnovers and giving up 42 points of those Thursday, NSU had only eight giveaways and outscored McNeese 16-7 on points off turnovers. True freshman point guard C.J. Jones played a season-high 34 minutes, had his best scoring game as a Demon with 14 points, while not committing a turnover.

“C.J. played a heck of a game. Getting his scoring production was nice. He was aggressive and he played smart,” said McConathy. “For a true freshman to have no turnovers, playing nearly twice as long as he ever had before, that was impressive.”

NSU led for the first nine minutes, by as much as eight points, but McNeese (5-7 overall, 2-0 in the Southland) had the upper hand for the game’s final 30 minutes. The margin wavered between 4-11 points in the second half. The Demons were twice within five in the final four minutes, but the missed free throws combined with not scoring a basket after Jones’ three-point play with 3:37 left to scuttle NSU’s chances.

“We were atrocious at the free throw line. You give away points going 5-of-13 there. This was a close game and we missed five of six down the stretch, when if we made three or four, it’s a one or two-possession game,” said McConathy. “They also got nearly every rebound closing out the game.”

Iziahiah Sweeney led the Demons with 15 points and Ishmael Lane had 11. NSU finished with a 38-36 rebounding edge, 22 on the offensive glass, but the Cowboys got seven of the last nine rebounds to seal the outcome.

NSU played its second game without senior point guard Jalan West, out indefinitely for personal reasons.

“It’s going to get better, but it may be a slow process. If we make as much improvement game to game as we did from Thursday night to this afternoon, it won’t be slow,” said McConathy. “This is a very young team that needs to grow up fast, and we took steps in that direction today.

“I’m pleased with our effort. We competed. We were locked in,” he said. “We played with pace and poise. It was 180 degrees opposite of what happened in the last game and it’s exactly the way we have to be going forward.”

NSU played on the road for the sixth straight game. The Demons go to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Wednesday and finally get into Prather Coliseum for the first time since Nov. 29 next Saturday against Stephen F. Austin in an afternoon doubleheader.