Nobody gave the Cowboys much of a chance despite their 10-2 start, the best in 51 years for the program.

It was a game expected to be worth $90,000. By the time the Cowboys left Ann Arbor that weekend, the trip had been worth so much more.

McNeese shocked the college basketball world that Friday night with a decisive 87-76 upset of the Wolverines, the first victory ever for the Cowboys over a Big Ten team.

The publicity that followed was priceless, as the game served as McNeese’s coming-out party. From then on, the Cowboys were on the radar as a rising mid-major team.

The game is really the starting point of McNeese basketball’s amazing turnaround.

“That game showed people what was possible here,” said McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer. “It was a really big win for us.”

And for Schroyer, who had made the commitment to basketball by signing Will Wade as the head coach. Beating Michigan gave that move validation.

The Cowboys will return to the scene of their big victory Monday, two years to the day of the first meeting. They will play a much different and improved Michigan team, which is ranked No. 2 in the country.

But two years ago, it was McNeese that looked the better team. They didn’t just beat Michigan, they dominated the Wolverines from start to finish, outscoring them 29-11 over the final nine minutes.

“I’m so happy for our players, so happy for our fans,” Wade said at the time. “I’m just proud of our players and happy for our community; they have been through so much.”

The game was also big for McNeese guard Shahada Wells, who scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as he outplayed all the Wolverines. Wells was the best player on the floor that night, and it wasn’t even close.

Christian Shumate scored 14 points, thanks in large part to three dunks, as the nation first heard about ShuSlams, the nickname for his rim-bashing. DJ Richards had 15.

“I don’t feel it was an upset,” said McNeese guard Shahada Wells. “I think we can beat anybody we play.”

The Cowboys went on to finish 30-4 that magical season, falling in the NCAA Tournament to powerhouse Gonzaga.

Since then, it hasn’t been so easy for McNeese to get games, especially the money kind, when it comes to scheduling. Not too many teams want to write a big check to play somebody who might beat them.

Since then, McNeese’s program has only grown bigger and stronger. The Cowboys have even won an NCAA game, beating Clemson in the first round last year before falling to Purdue.

But it’s still that game at Michigan, when nothing was expected, that will be remembered as the Cowboys’ introduction to the rest of college basketball.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese State athletics for the American Press. Email him at jimgazzolo@yahoo.com