McNeese dominates from start to finish in 105-54 win at HCU

HOUSTON – McNeese found the quick start that had eluded it the last few games, but the Cowboys didn’t seem content with a 20-4 lead early on, instead they kept the foot on the gas and put a 105-54 dominating performance on HCU Monday night.

Five Cowboys scored in double-figures, led by DJ Richards Jr. with 16 points. All 12 players that saw action scored as head coach Will Wade emptied the bench with 10 minutes still to play in the second half and McNeese leading 81-36.

McNeese improves to 22-3 with the win, matching the school record for most wins in a season as a Division I school with the 2000-01 Cowboy squad. The 51-point margin of victory also sets a new school record in Southland Conference games, breaking the old margin of 41 set in 1974-75 (defeated Lamar 104-63).

The win also improves McNeese’s lead record to 11-1 and holding firm on a two-game lead in the league standings. McNeese will visit second place Nicholls on Saturday.

Shahada Wells, Christian Shumate and Antavion Collum each scored 13. Shumate added 10 rebounds for his second-straight double-double, seventh on the season and 28th in his career, four away from the school career record of 32.

Javohn Garcia added 11 points to round out the double-digit scorers.

McNeese knocked down 56% from the field (40 of 71) and connected on a season-high 15 three-point goals (15-32 for 47%). The Cowboys where near unconscious in two-point field goals, making 25 of 29 for 86%. Two of those came from the ever-entertaining dunking of
Shumate who had two windmill slams, one off an alley-oop pass from Wells.

The Cowboys scored the first two points of the game off a floating jumper from Collum. HCU tied it 2-2 then the route was on as McNeese scored the next 12 points. After the Huskies snapped the 12-0 run, McNeese followed with a 20-3 run that saw the Cowboys knock down 8 of 11 shots including 3 of 5 from behind the arc.

The Cowboys led 58-27 at the half, the largest against a Division I school this season with the most points scored against any opponent in the first half. McNeese knocked down 24 of 36 (67%) in the first 20 minutes, making 8 of 14 from three-point range and 16 of its 22 two-point attempts.

McNeese outscored HCU (6-17, 4-8) by a 47-27 margin in the second half as the starters made way to the rest of the Cowboys with just over 10 minutes to play.

The Huskies Marcus Greene and Dominic Capriotti led their team with 15 points each. HCU was held to 13-52 (25%) from the field and just 5 of 22 (23%) from three-point range.

McNeese held a 40-36 advantage in rebounds and forced HCU into 20 turnovers while scoring 33 points off the miscues. McNeese turned the ball over just seven times, two in the first half.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak to the Huskies. The two will meet in Lake Charles on March 4 in the regular-season home finale.