HOUSTON (Interstat) — McNeese State used a strong second half to defeat Houston Christian 78-68 in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Monday night at Sharp Gymnasium. The visiting Cowboys, who trailed 40-33 at halftime, outscored the Huskies 45-28 after the break. Larry Johnson led McNeese State with 22 points. Ryan Bartley scored 14 for Houston Christian. McNeese State improved to 10-2 overall. Houston Christian fell to 5-6. An announced crowd of 803 attended.

HOUSTON (Interstat) — Larry Johnson scored 22 points and the McNeese State Cowboys used a dominant second-half defensive performance to erase a halftime deficit and defeat the Houston Christian Huskies 78-68 in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Monday night at Sharp Gymnasium. The Cowboys, who entered as heavy favorites, improved to 10-2 overall. The Huskies fell to 5-6. The game turned decisively after halftime. Houston Christian, fueled by hot outside shooting, led 40-33 at the break. Trent Johnson and Ryan Bartley combined for five first-half 3-pointers for the Huskies, who shot efficiently from the perimeter to build their advantage. McNeese State’s response was immediate and overwhelming. The Cowboys opened the second half on a 17-3 run, completely flipping the momentum. The surge was keyed by stifling defense that held Houston Christian without a field goal for nearly six minutes. The Huskies, who scored 40 points in the first half, were limited to just 28 after intermission, shooting a frigid percentage from the floor as the Cowboys tightened their defensive grip. Johnson, a 6-foot-4 guard from Savannah, Georgia, was the catalyst, attacking the rim and hitting timely shots. His dunk off a feed from Carl Cherenfant with 7:32 remaining gave McNeese State a 58-56 lead, part of a critical personal run that helped the Cowboys finally pull away for good. Jerrell Colbert, a 6-foot-10 forward from Houston, provided a strong interior presence with 12 points, while fellow Houston native DJ Richards added 14 points off the bench, including a key 3-pointer during the second-half surge. Javohn Garcia chipped in 11 points and four assists for the Cowboys. For Houston Christian, Ryan Bartley led the way with 14 points, but was hampered by six turnovers. Trent Johnson, from Cambridge, Canada, scored 12 points, all in the first half, and Elijah Brooks of Topeka, Kansas, added nine points and five assists. Demarco Bethea contributed 11 points. The most important sequence of the game was the Cowboys’ initial second-half blitz. After being outplayed for much of the first period, they came out of the locker room with heightened defensive intensity. They forced rushed shots and turnovers, converting them into easy transition opportunities. This stretch, where they turned a seven-point deficit into a seven-point lead, established a tone of control that Houston Christian could never fully counter, allowing McNeese State to methodically close out the conference road victory. The game drew an announced crowd of 803. McNeese State next plays at Michigan on Dec. 29. Houston Christian travels to face Nicholls State on Wednesday.

HOUSTON (Interstat) — A surging McNeese State squad looks to continue its strong start when it visits Houston Christian in a Southland Conference men’s basketball matchup Monday night at Sharp Gymnasium. The Cowboys (9-2) enter on a three-game winning streak, including a dominant 102-66 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday. McNeese State has won eight of its last nine, with the lone loss a narrow 71-67 road defeat at Incarnate Word on Dec. 1. Houston Christian (5-5) aims to rebound after a 74-71 home loss to Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday. The Huskies have alternated wins and losses over their past six games. McNeese State is powered by guard Tyshawn Archie, who is coming off a 24-point performance in just 21 minutes against Texas A&M-Commerce. Over his last three games, Archie is averaging 18.7 points while shooting efficiently from the field. The Huskies counter with guard Elijah Brooks, who has been a consistent facilitator and scorer. Brooks is averaging 14.0 points and 3.8 assists over his last five contests, including an 18-point, 5-assist effort in a win at New Orleans on Dec. 6. McNeese State’s offense has been potent, scoring 92 points or more in four of its wins. In addition to Archie, DJ Richards (16 points) and Carl Cherenfant (9 points, 6 assists) were key contributors in the latest rout. Houston Christian will need to tighten a defense that allowed Southeastern Louisiana to shoot 50% from the field in its last outing. The Huskies have shown resilience on the road this season but are just 2-2 at home. This game opens a critical early conference stretch for both teams. Following this contest, Houston Christian travels to face Nicholls State on Wednesday, while McNeese State’s next game is a major non-conference test at Michigan on Dec. 29. Monday’s tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST at Sharp Gymnasium on the campus of Houston Christian University.