Cowboys try to ride momentum
Published 12:00 pm Saturday, February 11, 2023
- McNeese State guard Trae English drives against Southeastern Louisiana Thursday night at the Legacy Center. The Cowboys visit New Orleans today trying for back-to-back wins. (Rick Hickman / American Press)
Now that their nine-game losing streak is over, the Cowboys will try to ride some momentum all the way into the postseason.
McNeese State hits the road for a showdown with New Orleans today at Lakefront Arena.
The teams are tied for last in the 10-team Southland Conference with 3-9 records, a game behind Lamar for the eighth and final spot in the postseason tourney with six regular-season games to play.
“I think you guys think about the tournament stuff more than us,” said McNeese head coach John Aiken. “We have to stop worrying about the big picture and take it one day at a time.”
The Cowboys (6-19) ended their losing streak Thursday night when they held on to beat Southeastern Louisiana 69-66. It was the second time this season McNeese knocked off a team leading the conference.
“It feels great to get the win,” said sophomore forward Christian Shumate. “We never counted ourselves out.”
The Cowboys have suffered from late-game issues but have played well against the better SLC clubs for the better part of 30 minutes.
“We have to make plays down the stretch,” said guard Trae English. “We have to learn from our mistakes. We have to keep moving forward. I believe that we can make a run at the end and in the tournament.”
First the Cowboys have to get in. With three of their final five games at home after today, they say their future is in their hands.
“There is still a lot of basketball left to play,” Aiken said. “Let’s just see where we are at after the next six games.”
McNeese’s losing streak may be over by the Privateers are mired in one themselves. They have lost eight straight and are 5-8 on their home floor.
UNO has been without its top scorer for the last three games, Jordan Johnson, who is second in the Southland averaging 17 points a game. His status for today’s game is uncertain.
Shumate leads McNeese is both scoring (12.4) and rebounds (9.3). He has recorded a double-double in each of the last three games.
The Cowboys are looking to reverse another trend, having lost seven times in their last nine trips to New Orleans.
