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LAKE CHARLES WEATHER

Winning Through it All

Jan 23, 2025 04:54PM ● By Kelsey Swire
By Jim Gazzolo

The Cowboys find themselves right where we all expected them to be.

They will ride a nine-game win streak into Saturday’s game at Texas Rio-Grande Valley and have a 14-5 record overall. At 8-0 in the Southland Conference, they hold a two-game lead over the rest of the league in their quest for a second-straight regular season championship. McNeese has also won 17 consecutive games against the SLC competition, the best in the nation.

When it comes to the Southland, they are in a league of their own. But how they got here was not the expected journey. As the Cowboys approach the halfway point of the conference, they have faced several obstacles, and injuries have played a big part in their troubles. However, the team has rallied around the words of head coach Will Wade. “We are going to coach the guys we got,” Wade said. “Never worried who we don’t have.”

The Cowboys have already suffered big losses but have overcome them. One example is guard Alyn Breed, who showed real ability in his two games. Breed scored 18 in the opener against South Dakota State and 17 at Alabama. Unfortunately, those are the only two games he has played in. He has missed the rest with an injured knee. Whether he can return at all this season is still up in the air. “It is frustrating,” said Breed. “I want to be out there with my teammates. I haven’t even been in a game we have won.” Breed has missed most of the games, but he is not alone.

With Breed out, Omar Cooper took over the starting point guard spot. That lasted until the league started when Cooper took ill and has missed the last eight games. The Cowboys got so thin that they pulled the redshirt off another guard, sophomore T’Johnn Brown.

Brandon Murray went down with a knee injury, forcing the forward to miss several games. Joe Charles, the most consistent big man so far this season for McNeese, sat out the last game against Stephen F. Austin after injuring an ankle last Saturday in a win over Lamar. If needed, Charles could have played against SFA and might be back this weekend. “If we had to play, Joe could have,” said Wade. “He will be back soon.”

Despite the injuries, the Cowboys have powered forward. “Ever since we got here, the message has been about the next man up,” guard Javohn Garcia said. Garcia came to McNeese last year when Wade took over the program. 

Since then, McNeese has posted a 43-9 record. They have done that by playing through the setback. “We have good chemistry and work together,” said Quadir Copeland. “It took some time for everybody to get used to each other, but we have done that now.”

Murray might be the perfect example of this year’s team. Although he came from more prominent programs, he knew what to expect, having played for Wade his freshman season at LSU when he was called upon to replace Charles. Murray scored 14 points in 29 minutes against Lamar.

Last Monday, it was Bryant Selebangue’s turn to fill Charles’ sneakers. The transfer from Arizona State started against SFA in Charles’ place and just missed a double-double. Selebangue had 10 points and nine rebounds before fouling out in McNeese’s 79-59 victory. “That’s why you got to have a lot of good players,” said Wade. “Somebody is always able to step up when we need them.”

That was the Cowboys’ 26th win in their last 27 home games. The numbers are also the same for Wade’s time in the Southland. While McNeese endured the season with few injuries last year, things have been different this year. However, the outcome has remained the same.

These Cowboys have figured out they have many weapons and ways to win games and are using them all.



Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese athletics. He is the host of Poke Nation on CBS-Lake Charles.
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