More to play for
Published 8:29 am Friday, February 6, 2026
Cowboys out to avenge loss at UIW
It has not gone perfectly, but it is far from over for the Cowboys.
While a third straight regular-season Southland Conference championship may be on life support, the real goal is still very well within reach.
McNeese State begins picking up the pieces of Monday’s tough loss at Stephen F. Austin this weekend, hosting Incarnate Word Saturday afternoon in Townsley Law Arena.
With eight games remaining before the postseason, the Cowboys are 18-5, 11-3, and know that a third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament is in their own hands. And in their gym.
“There is a lot of basketball left to play,” said McNeese head coach Bill Armstrong. “We no longer control our own destiny, but we have a lot to play for. A lot of things can happen.”
McNeese is two games behind first-place SFA and two ahead of third-place Nicholls. It is important that they at least stay in second to earn the double bye to the SLC Tournament semifinals, a tourney they host again in March.
The winner of that earns a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Cowboys have lost just once in Lake Charles the last three years, which McNeese has earned the last two seasons.
“That is the standard here,” said Armstrong. “Don’t count us out.”
First, the Cowboys have to avenge a 71-67 loss to UIW in the SLC opener on the first day of December. Davion Bailey scored 29 points for the Cardinals (10-13, 5-9) as he hit 7-of-15 3-point shots.
“He hit some big, tough shots on us,” said Armstrong. “We have to make sure we challenge his shots better so he doesn’t get started.”
Bailey is coming off a 36-point performance Monday in UIW’s win over Corpus Christi. That’s the most points scored in the Southland this season. He leads the league in scoring at 18.4 points per game.
Guard Garwey Dual led McNeese with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor, but the Cowboys started slowly, a road trend that has stayed with them most of the season.
“I don’t know if I can explain that,” said Armstrong. “If I could explain it, I would fix it.”
Larry Johnson leads McNeese in scoring at 17 a game, good for fifth in the conference.
Forward Jerrell Colbert is coming off back-to-back double-doubles, the first two of his career. The 6-foot-10 senior had 10 points and 12 rebounds against Lamar last Saturday and 10 and 10 Monday at SFA.
“That was a positive,” said Armstrong. “He is now showing the guy we recruited.”
McNeese has won 23 straight at home overall and 30 in a row against SLC competition. If they can stay perfect at home, then another trip to the big dance is still in play.
