With a chance to earn breathing room in the Southland Conference race, the Cowboys head into a nationally televised showdown Monday in Corpus Christi, Texas.

McNeese State takes on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a battle of the top two teams in the league. McNeese is 5-0 in the conference for just the second time in program history and 16-2 overall.

They will be looking to match their best start ever Monday, joining the 1973-74 team. The Pokes also carry an 11-game win streak into the game that will be on ESPNU at 7 p.m.

The two-time defending SLC champion Islanders enter at 4-1, 11-7, and trying to tie McNeese atop the league standings.

“I look at it as we got to knock them off,” said McNeese head coach Will Wade. “They are the known commodity while we are the new kids on the block.”

The Islanders have won the last 16 contests between the teams. McNeese hasn’t beaten Corpus since Jan. 10, 2013, and is just 1-11 all-time as the visitors.

“They have had their way with the league the last two years and we are trying to get there,” said Wade. “This is going to be a heavyweight fight in a hostile environment.”

McNeese is coming off an 80-66 win at Incarnate Word Saturday that saw Mike Saunders become the sixth Cowboy to lead the team in scoring with 20 points. He is also the sixth Poke to score 20 points or more this season.

“We got a deep team and that’s how it is going to be, different guys on different nights,” said Saunders. “I have to give credit to my teammates for making it possible.”

McNeese will have to deal with Corpus junior forward Garry Clark, who leads the Islanders in scoring at 11.8 per game. He is fourth in the league in rebounds at 8.4 and tops the SLC in field goal percentage, making 55.1 percent from the floor.

“They are going to try and pound it inside,” said Wade. “They play old-school ball. We have to bring our hard hats.”

The Cowboys will counter with Shahada Wells, who is second in the league in scoring at 18.9, and Christian Shumate who scores at a 12.3 clip and tops the SLC in rebounds at 9.6.

But defense will be the order of the day as McNeese allows just 60.8 points a game, first in the conference. The Islanders are second at 67.

TAMCC leads the league in rebounding and second-chance points, meaning the Cowboys will be tested on the boards.

“This will come down to when the ball is on the rim can we go get it,” said Wade.

After Saturday’s results that saw Lamar get upset by Houston Christian a win Monday at Corpus will mean McNeese would have a two-game lead in the league race just six games in.

That would be a big step in their attempt to win their first regular season title since 2011.