LAKE CHARLES, La. — In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, DJ Richards led the McNeese Cowboys to a 75-64 victory over the Lamar Cardinals, securing their eighth consecutive win.

Richards had an impressive performance, scoring 19 points while shooting 5 for 10 from the field, including a remarkable 5 for 9 from beyond the arc. Additionally, he made 4 of his 5 attempts from the free-throw line, contributing significantly to McNeese’s success this season. Teammate Brandon Murray also played a crucial role, adding 14 points with great efficiency, going 5 of 8 from the field and 3 of 4 from the charity stripe. Quadir Copeland rounded out the contributions for the Cowboys, with a solid 10 points from 4 of 7 shooting, though he struggled somewhat at the free-throw line, making just 1 of 4 attempts. With this latest win, the Cowboys improved their record to 13-5 overall, and they remain unbeaten in the Southland Conference with a 7-0 mark.

On the other side, the Lamar Cardinals, whose record now sits at 9-9 with a 4-3 conference record, were led by Alexis Marmolejos, who scored 20 points in the contest. Andrew Holifield also made his presence felt, contributing 11 points along with six rebounds and three blocks. Cody Pennebaker added 10 points to the Cardinals’ performance as well, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory.

Looking ahead, both teams will be back in action on Monday. McNeese will host Stephen F. Austin (SFA), while Lamar will be on the road to face Nicholls State.