The Cowboys keep raising the bar and making history in the process.

For the first time, the McNeese State Men’s Basketball has received a vote in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

The 14-2 Cowboys, off to their best start in 51 seasons, received one vote Monday in the latest weekly rankings of sports writers. They become the first Southland Conference team to earn a vote in that poll since March 2020 when former league member Stephen F. Austin received votes.

The Cowboys take on Lamar in a battle for first place in the Southland at 7 p.m. today in the Legacy Center. Both teams enter the game with 3-0 records in the league in the latest Battle of the Border.

The Pokes have won nine straight games under first-year head coach Will Wade, including a victory over Big Ten Michigan. Last Saturday they knocked off preseason conference favorite Southeastern 74-65 behind 22 points from Javohn Garcia and 20 more by Shahada Wells.

“I’m so excited about getting votes in the AP Top 25 this early in the season,” said McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer. “It’s a credit to Coach Wade, his staff and our tremendous student/athletes.

“I’ve always said that McNeese as an athletic department and from a basketball standpoint is a sleeping giant with untapped potential. This is evidence of just that.”

It is a quick turnaround for a program that lost 23 games last season, the most in its history, and 22 the year before.

After tonight’s game, McNeese will be back on the road for a pair of Southland contests on Saturday at Incarnate Word and next Monday in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The game against the defending league-champion Islanders will be televised on ESPN U.