Preview: Islanders Face Tall Task at McNeese State LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — The Southland Conference’s top team looks to continue its dominant season when the McNeese State Cowboys host the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. McNeese State (22-5, 11-1 Southland), riding a five-game winning streak, sits firmly in first place. The Cowboys boast one of the nation’s most efficient offenses and a stifling defense, having won their last two games by an average of 29 points. They previously handled the Islanders with a 69-53 victory in Corpus Christi on Jan. 19. The Cowboys are led by dynamic guard Tyshawn Archie, who is coming off a 24-point performance in a win at Northwestern State. Archie has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games, providing consistent scoring punch for a deep McNeese squad. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (14-13, 7-5) enters after a 78-68 home loss to Stephen F. Austin, snapping a two-game win streak. The Islanders, who sit in the middle of the conference standings, have struggled for consistency, alternating wins and losses over their last seven contests. Guard Nicholas Shogbonyo is a key barometer for the Islanders. He scored 20 points in a win at Incarnate Word last month and 17 in a victory at Nicholls State earlier this month, but was held to nine points or fewer in three of the team’s recent losses. Containing Archie and generating efficient offense from Shogbonyo will be critical for the visitors. The matchup at Burton Coliseum presents a stark contrast. McNeese State ranks among the conference leaders in scoring margin and field goal percentage defense, while the Islanders have found wins harder to secure on the road. For Corpus Christi to pull the upset, they must control the tempo and limit the transition opportunities for the high-flying Cowboys. Saturday’s contest is the second of two regular-season meetings. Following this game, McNeese State will host Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Monday, while the Islanders travel to face Southeastern Louisiana.