LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — McNeese State held off a late challenge from Stephen F. Austin for a 66-64 men’s basketball victory Monday night at Burton Coliseum. The Cowboys, playing at home, trailed 38-34 at halftime but outscored the Lumberjacks 32-26 after the break to secure the win. The game was a matchup of teams with identical records, and both moved to 12-3 overall after the result. A crowd of 2,784 watched the narrow contest, which saw McNeese State overcome a halftime deficit. Stephen F. Austin could not complete the road victory despite leading for much of the first half. Both teams continue conference play Saturday. McNeese State hosts Southeastern Louisiana, while Stephen F. Austin returns home to face Houston Christian.

LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — In a tense Southland Conference showdown between two of the league’s top teams, McNeese State survived a frantic final sequence to edge Stephen F. Austin 66-64 on Monday night at Burton Coliseum. The game, played before a crowd of 2,784, was decided in the final six seconds. With the score tied at 64, McNeese State’s DJ Richards was fouled on a drive to the basket. The Houston native calmly sank both free throws to put the Cowboys ahead by two with 6.1 seconds remaining. Stephen F. Austin had one final chance. The Lumberjacks inbounded to Keon Thompson, whose driving layup attempt was blocked by McNeese State’s Garwey Dual. The ball caromed out of bounds off a Stephen F. Austin player with 2.2 seconds left. The Cowboys successfully inbounded the ball to run out the clock, securing the narrow victory. The final play capped a game characterized by physical defense and momentum swings. Stephen F. Austin (12-3, 2-1 Southland) led for much of the first half, taking a 38-34 advantage into the break behind 15 first-half points from guard Lateef Patrick. The Lumberjacks stretched their lead to as many as seven points early in the second half. McNeese State (12-3, 3-0) responded with a 13-2 run, fueled by the scoring of Larry Johnson and key defensive plays. Johnson, a guard from Savannah, Georgia, led all scorers with 18 points, providing a consistent offensive threat for the Cowboys. His driving layup with 5:03 remaining gave McNeese State a 60-56 lead, its largest of the game to that point. Stephen F. Austin refused to fade. Patrick, who finished with 15 points and five assists, and Kam Burton, who added nine points, hit crucial shots to keep the Lumberjacks within striking distance. A put-back layup by Chrishawn Christmas with 1:02 left tied the game at 64, setting the stage for the dramatic finish. Beyond Johnson, McNeese State received a vital spark from reserve guard Tyshawn Archie. The Houston product scored 16 points in just 17 minutes, including three three-pointers, providing critical offense off the bench. Jerrell Colbert added eight points and several key interior plays for the Cowboys. For Stephen F. Austin, Patrick orchestrated the offense while Christmas contributed eight points, three assists, and relentless activity on the glass. The Lumberjacks, however, were hampered by 15 turnovers, which McNeese State converted into 18 points. The win extends McNeese State’s winning streak to three games and gives them sole possession of first place in the early Southland Conference standings. The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for Stephen F. Austin. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Nacogdoches on Feb. 2. Both teams continue conference play on Saturday. McNeese State will host Southeastern Louisiana, while Stephen F. Austin returns home to face Houston Christian.

Preview: Stephen F. Austin at McNeese State LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — A pivotal early-season clash in the Southland Conference men’s basketball race is set for Monday night as the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks visit the McNeese State Cowboys at Burton Coliseum. Both teams enter with impressive records and momentum. Stephen F. Austin (12-2, 2-0 Southland) has won six straight games, most recently a 73-63 road victory at Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday. McNeese State (11-3, 1-0) is coming off an 82-70 home win over Lamar on Friday. The matchup features two of the conference’s top backcourt players. Stephen F. Austin is led by guard Keon Thompson, who has been a model of consistency and explosiveness. Over his last five games, Thompson is averaging 18.0 points and 5.8 assists, including a 25-point, five-assist performance against Louisiana-Monroe and a 21-point effort at Northwestern State. McNeese State counters with guard Javohn Garcia, a key contributor in the win over Lamar with 15 points. Garcia has reached double-figure scoring in four of his last five outings, providing steady backcourt production for the Cowboys. The Lumberjacks’ current win streak has been built on both ends of the floor, with four of the six victories coming by double digits. McNeese State’s three losses include a competitive road defeat at Rhode Island and a setback against a powerful Michigan team. Defense will be a key factor. Stephen F. Austin has held its last two opponents under 65 points, while McNeese State has limited foes to 70 points or fewer in eight of its 11 wins this season. This game marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They will meet again in Nacogdoches, Texas, on Feb. 2. The winner will seize an early advantage in the conference standings and establish momentum heading into the heart of the league schedule next weekend.