So much for slow starts.

The Cowboys turned Sharp Gym into a shooting gallery Monday night and they didn’t miss many targets.

Firing at will from the outset, McNeese State put all those worries of slow starts to rest, hammering host Houston Christian 105-54.

It was the third time this season, and second in Southland Conference play, that McNeese scored over 100 points. The 51-point victory was the largest since they beat Champion Christian by 64 (110-46) on Nov. 13. It is the widest margin of victory over a Division I opponent.

“We were ready to go,” said McNeese head coach Will Wade. “When you hit some shots like we did early, it’s easy to get off to a good start.”

The Cowboys started the game hitting 12 of their first 15 from the floor, five of those from long range.

With the win, McNeese improves to 22-3 overall, matching the most victories in program history as a Division I team. At 11-1 in the league, the Pokes hold a 2½ game lead over Nicholls with six to play.

The two teams will meet twice down the stretch with the first game at Nicholls on Saturday. Nicholls beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 67-63 Monday night while Incarnate Word upset Lamar 76-67.

“A total team win for us, but we have to get ready for a big game this weekend,” said Wade.

There were no thoughts of any upset in Houston, as McNeese used two 14-0 runs and another 10-0 spurt in the opening 11 minutes to grab a 34-9 lead and never slowed down.

“They came out and blitzed us, and we could never get in it,” said HCU head coach Ron Cottrell, whose team fell to 6-17, 4-8.

The victory for the Cowboys was the 17th in their last 18 games.

Christian Shumate was one of five McNeese players to score in double figures as all 12 Cowboys who made the trip to Houston scored.

Shumate collected his 28th career double-double, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds. He also had two blocks while connecting on six of seven shots from the floor. 

Those shots included four dunks, two of which were highlight reel-worthy Shuslams. The junior forward leads McNeese with 37 dunks on the year.

His big one came five minutes in and was a powerful windmill and gave McNeese a 20-4, and the Cowboys never looked back.

“He is just a highlight maker every night,” Wade said of Shumate. “He came out with great energy on the glass.”

Four other McNeese players finished in double figures led by DJ Richards, who came off the bench to nail five three-pointers and end with 16 points. He also had his fourth four-point play of the season.

Shahada Wells and Antavion Collum each added 13, eight in the opening six minutes,  while Javhon Garcia added 11. Roberts Berze made it all official with his second three-pointer with 1:48 left to put the Cowboys over the century mark.

“Collum came out and hit some big shots to get us going,” said Wade.

McNeese shot 56.3 percent from the floor, hitting on 40 of 71 attempts. The Cowboys also made 15 of 32 on three-point tries. 

In the first half eight of 14 from three and led 51-27 thanks to a 66.7% shooting average. 

McNeese will hope for another fast start at Nicholls on Saturday.