McNeese men’s basketball 2018-19 schedule features seven games vs. postseason teams

LAKE CHARLES – A new chapter of McNeese Cowboy Basketball, under the direction of new head coach Heath Schroyer, will tip off its 2018-19 season on November 7 when the Cowboys visit St. Mary’s followed by a Nov. 9 game at Arizona State.

The 2018-19 schedule features 15 home games as well as seven contests against teams that played in either the NCAA Tournament or the NIT last season.

The Cowboys will open up their home season against Loyola of New Orleans on Nov. 16 to begin a three-game home stand. That will be followed by a Nov. 20 game against the University of Mobile then Mississippi College on Nov. 23.

McNeese will host Division I foes North Carolina Central on Dec. 13 and long time in-state rival Louisiana-Lafayette on Dec. 18.

Also on the schedule are none-conference road games at SMU (Nov. 29), North Carolina Central (Dec. 1), Mississippi State (Dec. 4), UMKC (Dec. 15), and UT Rio Grand Valley (Dec. 22).

“Scheduling is always hard and it was especially hard this year,” said Schroyer. “With not having a definitive date for the opening of the arena and our league going to 20 conference games next season, it made the this year’s schedule even more challenging.

“I like the fact that we go on the road the first weekend and play two big quality programs. I think it will be a great experience for us and allow us to play two NCAA tournament quality teams.”

St. Mary’s posted a 30-6 record last season and finished second in the West Coast Conference standings with a 16-2 mark, one game behind Gonzaga. The Gaels advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT, falling to Utah by nine points.

Arizona State, coached by former Duke star Bobby Hurley, got out to a quick start last season by winning its first 12 games. The Sun Devils finished 20-12 on the year and fell to Syracuse by four points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

“I’m also excited about having 15 home games in our new arena,” said Schroyer. “Having ULL and UNCC at home is very big for us. ULL is an NCAA Tournament-type team and UNCC was in the tournament last year, so to have them both in our building is very big for us and our fans.”

North Carolina Central is a member of the MEAC and advance to last year’s NCAA Tournament after claiming its tournament title. The Eagles won 19 games on the season before falling to Texas Southern in one of the First Four games.

The two teams have played each other the last two seasons with the Eagles winning both contests, including a 77-71 victory in Durham last season.

The Ragin’ Cajuns posted a 27-7 season last year and won the Sun Belt regular season title before falling in the league tournament then lost to LSU in the first round of the NIT.

McNeese will visit Mississippi State for the first time since stunning the Bulldogs by a 66-47 score in 2014. Last season, the Bulldogs advanced to the NIT semifinals and posted a 25-12 record.

UMKC and UT Rio Grande Valley are both members of the WAC. The Kangaroos finished 10-22 last season while UTRGV posted a 15-18 record.

The Cowboys will close out their non-conference slate at home against Campbellsville-Harrodsburg on Dec. 30 then will open Southland Conference play wit two road games – at Incarnate Word (Jan. 2) and Northwestern State (Jan. 5).

“I believe our preseason schedule is very challenging and will help prepare us for out ultimate goal and that’s to compete for a conference championship,” said Schroyer.

Home conference games include Abilene Christian (Jan. 9), Nicholls (Jan. 16), Southeastern Louisiana (Jan. 19), Houston Baptist (Jan. 26), Lamar (Feb. 2), Northwestern State (Feb. 9), Central Arkansas (Feb. 20), New Orleans (Feb. 23), and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (March 6).

2018-19 McNeese Cowboys Basketball Schedule