Wells’ 30 paces McNeese to historic win at Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – For those in the college basketball world that didn’t know about the McNeese Cowboys, they do now.

Behind a 30-point, 10-rebound performance from Shahada Wells, McNeese led for all of 2 ½ minutes against Michigan, coming away with an 87-76 win over the Wolverines in the biggest win in school history.

Capturing its sixth-straight win, McNeese improves to 11-2 on the season, the best start in 51 years, and defeated a high-major team for just the third time in school history, including the first win over a Big Ten Conference opponent. McNeese defeated Mississippi State (66-47 in 2014) and Texas Tech (80-75 in 2012).

If that wasn’t enough to whet your palate about how talented this team is, Wells, with his 30-10 game to go along with six assists and five steals, is the first player in college basketball to record at least 30-10-5-5 since LSU’s Ben Simmons in the 2015 season. And he’s the first to do it against a high-major school since 2011.

Wells led all scorers, finishing with 30 points to lead the Pokes. It was the TCU transfer’s third 30-plus game this season. Wells finished 9-of-19 from the field and 11-of-13 from the free throw line.

DJ Richards added 15 points, hitting 4-of-9 from three-point range including three straight in the first half that helped the Cowboys take over seven minutes into the game. Christian Shumate scored 14 and added eight rebounds while Antavion Collum added 11 points.

CJ Felder, playing in just his second game on the season since being cleared by the NCAA, added seven points, five rebounds and three blocks while Javohn Garcia added five points but hit a big 3-pointer, his only of the game, with 2:37 to play that capped a 5-0 McNeese run after Michigan had pulled to within eight points.

McNeese hit nine free throws in the final two minutes to keep the Wolverines at bay, and turned the ball over only four times, matching the fewest on the season (UT Martin) while the Cowboys forced Michigan into 15 turnovers, 10 in the first half, while scoring 20 points off the miscues.

Michigan fell to 6-7 on the year and suffered its worst home loss against a non-conference opponent since losing by 11 to SMU in December of 2014.

Terrance Williams II led Michigan with 20 points while Olivier Nikamhoua and Dug McDaniel each scored 17, and Will Tschetter added 11.

McNeese led 40-37 at the half and controlled much of the first half as Michigan kept things close by hitting 10 three-pointers. But the Wolverines were held to just three made long balls in the second half while McNeese answered a 41.7% first half shooting performance with a 55.6% in the second half.

For the game, McNeese hit 48% (30-63) from the field and 41% (7-17) from three-point range. The Cowboys connected on 71.4% (20-28) at the free throw line and pushed Michigan in the rebound area with each school grabbing 36 boards.

Michigan sank 39.3% (22-56) from the field, and after connecting on 12 of 24 in the first half, made just 10 of 32 for 31.3% in the second. And following a sharp-shooting 52.6% (10-19) from behind the arc, Michigan made just 3 of 16 for 18.8% in the second half and ended the game 13 of 35 for 37.1%. The Wolverines were good at the line, hitting 19 of 23 for 82.6%.

The Cowboys conclude their non-conference schedule with the best mark in school history and will next be in action on January 6 when they visit Texas A&M-Commerce to begin Southland Conference play.

Postgame Notes:
• McNeese outscored Michigan 27-11 in the final 9:39 of the game, connecting on 6 of its 9 shots from the field and 13 of 17 from the free throw line during that span.
• Michigan’s 15 turnovers are the most at home this season by the Wolverines.
• McNeese dominated the paint, outscoring Michigan by a 42-14 margin.
• The Cowboys scored 12 fast break points while Michigan scored none.
• Wells’ double-double of 30-points and 10-rebounds is the first of his career.
• His 30-point game is the third on the season and fourth in his career while it marks his fifth, 20-plus point game on the season and 12th in his career.
• Christian Shumate had three dunks on the night, adding to his season total of now 17 Shu-Slams.
• Head coach Will Wade won his 199th career game.