The Cowboys have added a national brand to finish their basketball schedule.

Athletic Director Heath Schroyer confirmed a Jon Rothstein report Saturday that McNeese State will host fellow Mid-Major Santa Clara on Dec. 3 inside the Legacy Center.

The game is part of a home-and-home series between the teams. The Cowboys will make the return trip the following season. 

Santa Clara finished 20-12 last season, falling to St. Mary’s in the West Coast Conference Tournament. The league also has national power Gonzaga, which beat McNeese in the NCAA Tournament last season.

The Broncos have made the NCAA tourney 11 times, posting an 11-13 record.

“I’m really excited to bring an opponent like Santa Clara from the WCC into the Legacy Center,” said Schroyer. “Kudos to coach (Brandon) Chambers for all his hard work to put this schedule together.”

It has not been easy for Chambers, who continued to hear the word no from possible opponents after McNeese went 30-4 last season. 

“Santa Clara will be a hell of a game,” said McNeese head coach Will Wade. “They are a very high-level program.”

The Broncos could be the best opponent yet to play in the Legacy Center. Santa Clara has two players from Louisiana on the roster, which Wade said helped sell the game.

“We had been talking with them about multiple neutral site games and Chambers was able to get the home-and-home,” said Wade. “He did a great job after getting turned down 20 times a week. He was very persistent.”

McNeese also announced the scheduling of two non-Division I teams, LaTournea on Dec. 7 and Champion Christian Dec. 18. That finishes the Cowboy schedule.

Last year McNeese hosted four non-DI teams and this season will have three such games. The Cowboys were hoping for just two but teams were unwilling to come to Lake Charles after the Pokes went 18-0 at home in Wade’s first season.

“It’s been a goal to add quality D1 opponents to our schedule and Santa Clara is just that,” said Schroyer. “It will be a great test for our team, add to the quality and strength of our schedule, and give our fans an opportunity to see a quality opponent at home.”

The scheduling news broke as the Cowboys are taking part in a three-game summer series in El Salvador called the Volcano Classic. McNeese won its opening game 130-69 Friday night over Metapan. 

The Cowboys were short-handed as guards Javohn Garcia and Sincere Parker sat out while recovering from injuries. Wade said Garcia could have played if this was the regular season. Parker is a few weeks away.

Big man Bryant Selebangue remained in Lake Charles because of visa issues.

McNeese plays two more games, Saturday and Sunday in the event. The Cowboys open the much anticipated season on Nov. 4 against South Dakota State in the Field of 68 Showcase. 

That game will take place in the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.