LAKE CHARLES, La. — In a commanding display, Jovohn Garcia led McNeese to an 83-64 triumph over Northwestern State in a Southland Conference Tournament semifinal on Tuesday night. This victory extends the top-seeded Cowboys’ impressive winning streak to nine games, setting the stage for the championship confrontation with an NCAA Tournament bid on the line. McNeese (26-6) will face either the No. 2 seed Lamar or No. 3 seed Nicholls, who will emerge victorious from the other semifinal matchup.
Garcia showcased remarkable accuracy, sinking 8 of 14 shots, including an impressive 3 of 4 from three-point range, and was flawless from the free-throw line, hitting all five of his attempts. Teammate DJ Richards also contributed significantly, scoring 14 points with a near-perfect record from the floor, shooting 5 of 6 and 4 of 5 from three-point territory. Brandon Murray was another key player, connecting on 4 of 6 shots to deliver 11 points for the Cowboys.
For the fourth-seeded Demons (17-16), Micah Thomas was the standout performer, recording 19 points and securing three steals. In addition, Jerald Colonel chipped in with 12 points and pulled down six rebounds, while Addison Patterson contributed 11 points along with six assists.
McNeese never lagged behind in the match, seizing the lead with 18:44 remaining in the first half and refusing to relinquish it. Garcia was pivotal, scoring 10 points in the first half as the Cowboys established a significant 42-25 lead by halftime.
