LAKE CHARLES — The McNeese men’s basketball team capped off a record-breaking season under first-year coach Will Wade with an 92-76 victory over Nicholls on Wednesday afternoon in the Southland Conference Tournament title game inside the Legacy Center.
It was the Cowboys’ first SLC Tournament title since the 2001-02 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
McNeese won the jump ball and wasted little time taking a lead as Antavion Collum drained a three-pointer and then Shahada Wells moments later hit one himself.
In the next few minutes, Nicholls managed to cut the lead down to four points twice, but each time McNeese hit a bucket. The Colonels cut it down to four again after an and-one by Diante Smith with 9:36 left in the first half.
Nicholls then made it a one-point deficit after a wide-open corner three by Jamal West Jr. McNeese responded with Collum draining a three-pointer on the other end which sparked a 10-0 run for the Cowboys.
At the break, McNeese led Nicholls 48-32.
After Smith hit a three-pointer, Nicholls had cut the lead down to 15 points early in the second half but McNeese answered quickly as Christian Schumate threw down a powerful dunk that brought the crowd to its feet.
With 13:34 left, Smith hit another three-pointer for the Colonels but the Cowboys responded with a three by Javohn Garcia, which pushed the lead back up to 17 points.
Nicholls cut the lead down to 13 points after a three-pointer by Rob Brown III but once again McNeese responded as Wells hit a free throw and Garcia had a driving layup.
The Colonels managed to cut the lead down to 12 points but that was the closest they would come as the Cowboys pulled away for the victory.
BIG NUMBER: 22
The number of years since the Cowboys’ last time clinched a berth in the NCAA Men’s Tournament. McNeese won the SLC in the 2001-02 season, earned the No. 14 seed in the Midwest Region, and fell to No. 3 seed Mississippi State 70-58 in the first round.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: SHAHADA WELLS & JAVOHN GARCIA
The SLC Conference Player of the Year showed up in the biggest moment as he scored 26 points on 6-of-11 shooting with three three-pointers, three rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Garcia meanwhile added 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting with four rebounds and two steals.
UP NEXT: McNeese (30-3) will now wait to find out what seed it will receive in the NCAA Men’s Tournament. The official selections will be unveiled on Sunday evening.