Cowboys Clash with Lions for Southland Showdown Monday Night

HAMMOND, La. — The McNeese Cowboys will face the SE Louisiana Lions on Monday, February 17, at 7 p.m. ET at the Pride Roofing University Center. This Southland Conference matchup features McNeese (20-6, 14-1 Southland) aiming to solidify their lead against SE Louisiana (17-9, 11-4), who are looking to narrow the gap in the standings.

The Cowboys currently hold a three-game advantage in the conference over SE Louisiana and Lamar. A victory against the Lions would nearly guarantee the regular-season title for McNeese, led by coach Will Wade. The Cowboys have been strong lately, winning four consecutive games since their sole setback against Nicholls on February 1, where they lost 71-63.

Despite their winning streak, McNeese has struggled against the spread, going 0-6 in their last six games. Their last cover was on January 25 against UT Rio Grande Valley, succeeding as 10-point favorites in a dominating 93-63 win. In their most recent game, the Cowboys secured a 78-64 victory against New Orleans, where they were 19.5-point road favorites.

SE Louisiana comes into this contest looking to avenge a previous 79-51 loss to McNeese on December 30. In that game, Cowboys guard Javohn Garcia led all scorers with 26 points, nearly doubling his season average of 13.1 points per game. McNeese covered as 14-point favorites that day, with the game total (134.5) hitting the Under.

The Lions are on a five-game winning streak, significantly improving their performance, going 11-1 in their last 12 games and 9-2-1 against the spread during that stretch. Their last victory was an exhilarating 84-81 overtime win against Nicholls on Saturday, where guard Sam Hines Jr. hit a memorable game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. Hines Jr. led the Lions with 25 points in that game, with teammate Jakevion Buckley contributing 23 points.

Statistical predictions suggest McNeese will win by a score of 74-65, with the Cowboys listed as 8.5-point favorites. McNeese has an 11-12 record against the spread this season, while SE Louisiana stands at 17-7. The two teams together average 148.9 points per game, 12.4 points above the game’s over/under of 136.5.

As the Cowboys aim to maintain their dominant stance in the Southland, the Lions are determined to put up a challenging fight, especially considering their recent form. Both teams bring their strengths into this crucial late-season showdown, with much at stake for their respective goals in the league.