SLC Men’s Preview: Cowboys look to finish

Published 2:21 pm Friday, March 6, 2026

Upsets could be waiting top seeds

The Cowboys are 26-5, won the last two Southland Conference championships, and haven’t lost but once on their home court in the last three years.

That includes a 47-1 record and 34-0 against conference teams. They are also 59-5 overall against the league in that time.

Yet to many, they are considered underdogs heading into this year’s SCL Tournament, which they host beginning Sunday night.

“They still have to beat us on our court,” said guard DJ Richards, a three-year Cowboy who was named to last year’s All-Tournament Team. “We want to win three in a row; that’s been our goal. To win and get back to the NCAA Tournament.”

SLC Freshman of the Year Larry Johnson agrees. 

“I think we are the favorite,” Johnson said. “We are the team to beat, but we have an underdog mentality. 

“Our confidence is high. We have been playing well, and we have another gear to play with. We can play at another level.”

Johnson believes the home crowd can be the difference.

“I want to play on our home court in front of our fans,” he added. “They get us going.”

But the Cowboys are not the No. 1 seed for the first time in three years and won’t even be in their own locker room. Stephen F. Austin earned that right by winning the regular season title by a game over the Cowboys at 20-2.

“They earned it,” said McNeese head coach Bill Armstrong. “I don’t think anybody thought somebody would go through our conference and get 20 wins. They are a good team.”

The Lumberjacks are not alone. In a markedly improved Southland, up to six teams could realistically win the tournament. 

“This is playoff basketball,” said SFA head coach Matt Braeuer. “It’s win or go home. Our guys are excited. We got a second goal in front of us.”

The Cowboys and Jacks won’t open until the semifinals on Tuesday night in Townsley Law Arena. 

The tournament will start at 5 p.m. Sunday in the men’s championship with No. 5 New Orleans (14-17, 12-10) taking on No. 8 Northwestern State (10-21, 8-14). No. 6 Nicholls (13-18, 12-10) will follow that game against No. 7 Houston Christian (12-19, 8-14).

Texas-Rio Grande Valley is the third seed at (18-13, 14-8), and No. 4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (17-14, 13-9) will get started on Monday against Sunday’s winners. RGV and McNeese split their games this season.

McNeese will enter as the hottest team, having won eight straight games and 12 of its last 13. SFA will be the most decorated, with Player of the Year Keon Thomas joined by his coach, Braeuer, who was named Coach of the Year.

The Cowboys are still hoping to get Javohn Garcia back. The reigning tournament MVP has missed the last four games with a leg injury. He is expected to practice on Sunday and Monday before any decisions are made about his availability.

“He has been moving in the right direction,” said Armstrong. “We are hoping we get him back.”