After a rough weekend, the Cowboys look to find their long-range shooting touch Saturday.

McNeese split a pair of games despite making just 2 of 23 3-point shots and being outscored 51-6 from behind the arc.

“We were fortunate to win the Incarnate Word game,” said McNeese head coach Will Wade.

Maybe, but the Cowboys made enough big plays down the stretch to earn the win. McNeese beat UIW 67-65 on Monday after losing for the first time in Southland Conference play last Saturday at Nicholls.

“You can’t keep getting outscored from three and win,” said Wade. “We have to make adjustments.”

McNeese is still in great shape in the race for the SLC title. The Cowboys, 17-6 overall and 11-1 in the conference, hold a three-game lead over four teams heading into this weekend. They host Northwestern State in the Legacy Center on Saturday and East Texas A&M on Monday night.

Saturday’s game tips off at 4 p.m.

The last two games have likely given opponents a belief that the defending champion Cowboys can be beaten.

“Chinks in the armor for sure,” said Wade. “Northwestern is going to come in here confident and ready to compete.”

That was not the case in the first meeting between the two teams, and the Cowboys did not have any trouble shooting from any distance. McNeese made 16 of 28 threes while winning 92-69 in Natchitoches.

DJ Richards, currently in a shooting slump, was 6 of 7 from behind the arc to lead McNeese with 20 points. Sincere Parker made 6 of 8 for his 18 as six Cowboys scored in double figures.

Christian Shumate added 15 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Quadir Copeland had a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists. 

“We got a lot of shots in transition,” said Wade. “We need to get our spacing better and have better attention to details.”

Micah Thomas led the Demons (10-12, 7-5) with 15 points.

Over the last three games, the Cowboys have seen teams try to be physical with them, slowing down the games.

“It is a copycat league,” said forward Javohn Garcia. “Teams see what works against us and try the same thing. We have to play through that.”

There is no question that teams are trying to bog down the Cowboys and slow the pace. However, not all the teams in the league have the ability.

The Cowboys hope to attack the defense with speed and spacing. 

“Our spacing has not been good,” said Wade. “We have allowed two guys to guard one of us on the outside. Better spacing would allow us to get more open shots.”

Wade hopes that will allow McNeese to look better at the basket on 3-pointers, especially. 

On Monday night, the Cowboys used sophomore guard T’Johnn Brown down the stretch at point guard, replacing Quadir Copeland. This gave them more speed on the floor and better defense out front.

“TJ gave us our best chance to win, I felt,” said Wade. “I’m in the winning business. I’m not in the making friends business.”

Wade hopes the faster pace on breaks will lead to better 3-point shooting in transition.

“You look at the first time we played them, a lot of our 3-pointers came off transition,” Wade said. “That got us some open looks.”

That may be the key to the Cowboys regaining their shooting touch.