This might just be fun after all.

McNeese State introduced itself to the college basketball world Monday night in a big way. 

The new-look Cowboys, playing without their head coach Will Wade for the first of 10 games to open the season, went into hostile territory and served notice that they are not the Pokes of old.

With assistant coach Brandon Chambers filling in on the bench, the Cowboys started fast and then held off a late frantic barrage of three points to open their season with a big victory. 

McNeese knocked off national brand Virginia Commonwealth 76-65 in the first meeting ever between the two programs. And for the most part, it wasn’t even that close.

The win was the first in a season opener over a Division 1 program since the 1995-96 season for McNeese.

“I thought our guys competed and came out ready to fight from the jump,” said Chambers. “VCU is a tough team and they’re going to win a ton of games.”

The Cowboys led by as many as 20 points in the first 18 minutes and the Rams never got closer than seven in the second half. When they did make that run the Pokes responded with an 8-0 spurt to restore order.

There were some of the old and some of the new leading McNeese as transfer guards Shahada Wells and DJ Richards both had big nights. 

Wells, a TCU transfer, finished with a game-high 23 points, adding four assists and three rebounds to his resume. Richards, who came over from Texas-San Antonio, had 17 while hitting 5-of-6 from long range. 

As a team, McNeese was 8-of-17 from beyond the 3-point line.

But there was an old reliable as well. Junior forward Christain Shumate was back to his old tricks of producing a double-double. 

Shumate, who entered the transfer portal in the spring but elected to come back, finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds. He scored 16 after the break to hold off the Rams surge.

“He (Shumate) was huge,” said Chambers. “We challenged him to showcase what he can do. A lot of those scoring drives he took were purely physical.

“Down the stretch, he did what he does. He had a great end to the season last year and has carried it over.”

As for Wells and Richards, Chambers was just as pleased. 

“They were tremendous, both of them;” he said. “You can look at their careers and see the highs and lows. Credit Coach Wade for putting this team together. 

“He always tells them they don’t have a chip on their shoulder, they have a boulder. They bought in.”

Max Shulga led VCU with 22 points.

McNeese exploded out of the gate, rushing out to a 20-point lead with just under three minutes left in the first half, 41-21. But the Rams closed the half with a rush, scoring the last eight points led by a pair of 3-pointers from Shulga.

Any chance of a Ram comeback came to an end when Shumate threw down a two-hand dunk with 1:30 remaining to give McNeese a 74-65 lead and begin the celebration.

Amazingly, with all the new players the Cowboys turned the ball over just five times in the game while forcing 14.

“Our guys did all the little things right,” Chambers said. “We made great two-hand passes and protected against the pass. Can’t say enough about how we protected the ball.’

McNeese will be in the Legacy Center for its home opener Friday at 4 p.m. against the College of Biblical Studies. 

Wade had said his team was “a work in progress.” 

If so more fun might be in store for the winter.