Monday McNeese State opened the Will Wade era with an impressive road victory over Virginia Commonwealth. Now they get to play before their crowd inside the Legacy Center. 

Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. against the College of Biblical Studies. It is the first of three games in five days for the Pokes on their home floor.

“I’m excited to be playing at home,” said junior forward Christian Shumate. “We have worked really hard to get where we are and we want to show our fans that. We want to put on a show for them.”

Shumate finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds in the opener. Shahada Wells led the Pokes with 23 points and DJ Richards ended with 17 after McNeese entered the game 11-point underdogs.

“It was a good first step,” said Wade. “We didn’t come here to win the opener.”

Now the Cowboys will try to play up to their standards despite playing a lesser opponent. The Ambassadors out of Houston are off to a solid 4-1 start as they step up in competition.

“We want to play to our standards,” said Wade, who will miss his second game of a 10-game suspension. “We have to understand you just can’t turn it on and off. You have to play consistently hard.”

Wade, who took over the program in the offseason after McNeese lost a program-record 23 games last season, wants his team to show their new fans what they can expect.

“This will be the first impression for a lot of folks,” Wade said. “I told the team you don’t get a chance to make a first impression.

“We want to be a team everybody can get behind.”

After last Monday’s victory the interest in the Cowboys has only grown. 

“We are seeing and hearing a lot more stuff,” Shumate said. “It is exciting to see.”

Jahreese Jordan leads CBS with an 18.5 points per game average but has played in just two of the games. They do have six players averaging double-digits.

The Ambassadors do like to shoot the long ball. They have made 30 over their five games while shooting 80 (37.5%). 

Once again McNeese will be without center/forward CJ Felder, the transfer from Florida who is waiting to be cleared by the NCAA. It’s the same for guard Mike Saunders (Utah). 

Wade said he hopes to hear early next week about both but added that Felder is further along in the process right now.

With Wade out, assistant coach Vernon Hamilton will lead the Cowboys. Monday it was Brandon Chambers calling the shots and the two will continue to take turns until Wade is back.

“I’m very excited for the chance to coach the first home game,” said Hamilton. “It is a great opportunity for me and I don’t want to let anyone down.”

Wade hopes to get some more players into the game after using just eight against VCU. 

“We want to develop depth as we move through the nonconference games,” Wade said. “It was hard to do that when you play such a tough opponent in the first game. You can’t dip your toes in the deep water, you have to dive right in.”

The Cowboys are looking to make a splash in their home opener.