If Saturday was any indication, expect the Southland Conference tournament to be intense, if nothing else.

With little to play for, McNeese matched second-place Lamar blow-for-blow in Neches Arena and came away bloodied, bruised, and victorious.

Thanks to a 13-0 run early in the second half, the Cowboys withstood constant pressure from the Cardinals and their fans, then held off a wild finish. 

Behind Sincere Parker’s 25 points, McNeese beat Lamar 68-66 in front of the biggest Southland crowd of the season, 5,746. The win saw McNeese improve to 24-6, 18-1, setting the school record for conference victories in a season.

“That was a heavyweight fight between two very good teams,” said McNeese head coach Will Wade. 

It was a fight that almost came to blows as the two teams met at halfcourt after the final buzzer to push, shove, and bark at each other. 

“That was a tough place to play,” said Parker. “It was a physical game and we had to meet their toughness.”

It was a tournament-like setting one week before the Southland kicks off its postseason championship at McNeese.

“It felt like a tournament game for sure,” said Parker. “Us being at the top of the mountain, we are going to get everybody’s best.”

The Cowboys did Saturday for sure.

It took Parker hitting six free throws in the final 37 seconds to hold a late Cardinal charge that erased an 11-point McNeese lead.

“Huge shots by Sin there at the end,” said Wade. “We need each one of them.”

Parker’s 25 points came in just 21:22 of play. He was able to stay focused despite his time on the bench.

“I always feel like I am in the game even when I’m not in the game,” said Parker. “I watch so I know to stay ready.”

The Cowboys looked to be in control when Quadir Copeland hit a runner with 5:52 for a 57-46 McNeese lead. But Lamar scored 12 of the next 14 points, and when Adam Hamilton followed up a miss with a bucket, the score was tied 59-59 with 1:39 remaining. 

“We got out of our offense there, and they jumped back into the game,” said Wade. 

After a Javohn Garcia free throw gave McNeese the lead, the final minute belonged to Parker. Garcia was the only Cowboy to score double figures, finishing with 10.

Ja’sean Jackson had 19, and Alexis Marmolejos finished with 18 to lead the Cardinals (18-12, 13-6). 

McNeese survived despite missing 13 free throws and were just 3-15 on 3-point shots. 

The Cowboys trailed 35-31 at the half and 38-31 before a 20-2 run led by Parker. It was during that run that we saw the first dust-up between teams, as a Parker three led to a timeout.

Three McNeese players got caught in the wash of Lamar’s team circle and had to struggle to get out. That led to some pushing and a very upset Cardinals head coach Alvin Brooks, who claims a Cowboy stepped on his feet.

The win gives McNeese 54 over the last two years, tying the program record.

“This is obviously a rivalry game,” said Wade. “This is good for the league.”

So maybe we can see a repeat performance next week in Lake Charles.

“That is going to be a dogfight,” said Wade. 

McNeese will finish out the regular season Monday at Stephen F. Austin. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU at 6 p.m. Lake Charles time.

“Anytime you can be on national television, it is good for McNeese,” said Wade. “It is a great opportunity for our players, program and community.”