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2024–25 McNeese Cowboys basketball team

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2024–25 McNeese Cowboys basketball
SLC regular season & tournament champions
NCAA tournament, Second Round
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record28–7 (19–1 Southland)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaThe Legacy Center
Seasons
← 2023–24
2025–26 →
2024–25 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
McNeese † 19 – 1   .950 28 – 7   .800
Lamar 14 – 6   .700 20 – 13   .606
Nicholls 13 – 7   .650 20 – 13   .606
Northwestern State 12 – 8   .600 16 – 16   .500
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 12 – 8   .600 20 – 14   .588
Southeastern Louisiana 12 – 8   .600 18 – 14   .563
Incarnate Word 9 – 11   .450 19 – 17   .528
Houston Christian 9 – 11   .450 12 – 20   .375
UT Rio Grande Valley 8 – 12   .400 16 – 15   .516
Stephen F. Austin 7 – 13   .350 14 – 17   .452
East Texas A&M* 3 – 17   .150 5 – 26   .161
New Orleans 2 – 18   .100 4 – 27   .129
† 2025 Southland tournament winner
* ineligible for the 2025 NCAA tournament due to transition period

The 2024–25 McNeese Cowboys basketball team represented McNeese State University in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cowboys, led by second-year head coach Will Wade, play their home games on-campus at The Legacy Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana as members of the Southland Conference.

Previous season

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The Cowboys finished the 2023–24 season 30–4, 17–1 in Southland play, to finish as Southland regular-season champions.[1] They defeated Nicholls[2] and Nicholls[3] to win the Southland tournament title, earning their first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2002.[4] In the NCAA tournament, they received the #12 seed in the Midwest Region,[5] where they fell to Gonzaga in the first round.[6]

Preseason polls

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Southland Conference Poll

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The Southland Conference released its preseason poll on October 16, 2024. Receiving 143 votes overall and 21 first-place votes, the Cowboys were picked to finish first in the conference.[7][8]

Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 McNeese 242 (21)
2 Stephen F. Austin 208
3 Nicholls 205 (3)
4 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 191
5 Lamar 143
6 Southeastern 121
7 Incarnate Word 117
8 UT Rio Grande Valley 112
9 Northwestern State 90
10 Texas A&M–Commerce 54
10 New Orleans 54
12 Houston Christian 48

Preseason All Conference

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Christian Shumate, Quadir Copeland and Joe Charles were selected as first-team members of a preseason all-conference team. Javohn Garcia and Brandon Murray were selected as second-team members.[7]

Roster

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2024–25 McNeese Cowboys men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
PG 0 T'Johnn Brown 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 164 lb (74 kg) So Kimball High School Dallas, TX
PG 1 Omar Cooper 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 179 lb (81 kg) Sr Clarendon College Atlanta, GA
SG 2 DJ Jr. Richards 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr UTSA Houston, TX
PG 3 Mike Jr. Saunders 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 189 lb (86 kg) Sr Utah Indianapolis, IN
F 5 Joe Charles 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Sr Louisiana Carencro, LA
SG 6 Javohn Garcia 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 183 lb (83 kg) Sr College of the Sequoias Columbus, OH
G 7 Alyn Breed Injured 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS Sr Providence Powder Springs, GA
F 8 Jerome Jr. Brewer 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 216 lb (98 kg) Jr Texas A&M–Commerce Camden, NJ
F 9 Bryant Selebangue 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jr Arizona State Montreal, QC
G 11 Quadir Copeland 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Syracuse Philadelphia, PA
G 13 Howard Jr. Gaskins 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Liberty Magnet High School Baton Rouge, LA
G 14 Erik Villarreal 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Clear Lake High School Houston, TX
G 21 Sincere Parker 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Saint Louis Rockford, IL
G 23 Brandon Murray 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Ole Miss Germantown, MD
F 24 Christian Shumate 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 213 lb (97 kg) Sr Tulsa Chicago, IL
G 33 Lamont Evans 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 155 lb (70 kg) Jr Saint Louis Hollywood, FL
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: December 3, 2024

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 4, 2024*
5:00 p.m., YouTube 		vs. South Dakota State
Field of 68 Showcase 		L 73–80  0–1
  18 – A. Breed   9 – C. Shumate   2 – J. Garcia  Sanford Pentagon (2,878)
Sioux Falls, SD
November 7, 2024*
7:30 p.m. 		Biblical Studies W 111–57  1–1
  21 – J. Garcia   8 – O. Cooper   13 – O. Cooper  The Legacy Center (3,036)
Lake Charles, LA
November 11, 2024*
6:00 p.m., SECN 		at No. 2 Alabama L 64–72  1–2
  19 – S. Parker   9 – J. Charles   2 – A. Breed  Coleman Coliseum (13,474)
Tuscaloosa, AL
November 18, 2024*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at North Texas W 68–61  2–2
  18 – S. Parker   9 – J. Charles   8 – O. Cooper  UNT Coliseum (3,537)
Denton, TX
November 22, 2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		vs. Illinois State
Paradise Jam quarterfinal 		W 76–68  3–2
  16 – J. Garcia   7 – 2 tied   5 – O. Cooper  Sports and Fitness Center (1,535)
St. Thomas, USVI
November 24, 2024*
4:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		vs. Longwood
Paradise Jam semifinal 		W 84–69  4–2
  31 – S. Parker   6 – J. Charles   3 – B. Murray  Sports and Fitness Center (2,225)
St. Thomas, USVI
November 25, 2024*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		vs. Liberty
Paradise Jam final 		L 58–62  4–3
  13 – C. Shumate   7 – Q. Copeland   2 – 2 tied  Sports and Fitness Center (1,986)
St. Thomas, USVI
December 3, 2024*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Santa Clara L 67–74  4–4
  17 – 2 tied   7 – C. Shumate   5 – O. Cooper  The Legacy Center (3,102)
Lake Charles, LA
December 7, 2024*
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		LeTourneau W 103–69  5–4
  22 – C. Shumate   9 – Q. Copeland   11 – Q. Copeland  The Legacy Center (2,765)
Lake Charles, LA
December 14, 2024*
5:00 p.m., ESPNU 		vs. No. 25 Mississippi State
Magnolia Madness 		L 63–66  5–5
  19 – J. Charles   9 – B. Murray   4 – 2 tied  Cadence Bank Arena (3,846)
Tupelo, MS
December 22, 2024*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Louisiana W 64–56  6–5
  22 – S. Parker   9 – J. Charles   2 – B. Murray  Cajundome (2,407)
Lafayette, LA
Conference regular season
December 28, 2024
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		New Orleans W 86–61  7–5
(1–0) 		 21 – D. Richards Jr.   6 – C. Shumate   10 – Q. Copeland  The Legacy Center (3,130)
Lake Charles, LA
December 30, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Southeastern Louisiana W 79–51  8–5
(2–0) 		 26 – J. Garcia   12 – B. Selebangue   8 – Q. Copeland  The Legacy Center (3,106)
Lake Charles, LA
January 4, 2025
2:15 p.m., ESPN+ 		at East Texas A&M W 75–56  9–5
(3–0) 		 24 – J. Garcia   10 – 2 tied   6 – Q. Copeland  The Field House (812)
Commerce, TX
January 6, 2025
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Northwestern State W 92–69  10–5
(4–0) 		 20 – D. Richards Jr.   6 – C. Shumate   11 – Q. Copeland  Prather Coliseum (387)
Natchitoches, LA
January 11, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Nicholls W 80–71  11–5
(5–0) 		 25 – J. Garcia   12 – J. Charles   3 – B. Selebangua  The Legacy Center (4,032)
Lake Charles, LA
January 13, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Houston Christian W 75–59  12–5
(6–0) 		 16 – 2 tied   9 – B. Selebangue   7 – Q. Copeland  Sharp Gymnasium (857)
Houston, TX
January 18, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Lamar
Battle of the Border 		W 75–64  13–5
(7–0) 		 19 – D. Richards Jr.   6 – Q. Copeland   3 – D. Richards Jr.  The Legacy Center (4,082)
Lake Charles, LA
January 20, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Stephen F. Austin W 79–59  14–5
(8–0) 		 16 – C. Shumate   11 – C. Shumate   6 – Q. Copeland  The Legacy Center (2,929)
Lake Charles, LA
January 25, 2025
4:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at UT Rio Grande Valley W 93–63  15–5
(9–0) 		 21 – Q. Copeland   10 – C. Shumate   8 – Q. Copeland  UTRGV Fieldhouse (1,473)
Edinburg, TX
January 27, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi W 74–73  16–5
(10–0) 		 14 – J. Garcia   5 – 2 tied   4 – Q. Copeland  American Bank Center (2,032)
Corpus Christi, TX
February 1, 2025
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Nicholls L 63–71  16–6
(10–1) 		 16 – B. Murray   9 – J. Charles   3 – Q. Copeland  Stopher Gymnasium (877)
Thibodaux, LA
February 3, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Incarnate Word W 67–65  17–6
(11–1) 		 13 – J. Garcia   9 – C. Shumate   7 – Q. Copeland  The Legacy Center (3,216)
Lake Charles, LA
February 8, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Northwestern State W 65–50  18–6
(12–1) 		 22 – J. Garcia   7 – B. Selebangue   4 – Q. Copeland  The Legacy Center (3,670)
Lake Charles, LA
February 10, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		East Texas A&M W 67–51  19–6
(13–1) 		 19 – C. Shumate   14 – C. Shumate   6 – Q. Copeland  The Legacy Center (2,883)
Lake Charles, LA
February 15, 2025
5:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at New Orleans W 78–64  20–6
(14–1) 		 21 – D. Richards Jr.   10 – J. Charles   4 – Q. Copeland  Lakefront Arena (737)
New Orleans, LA
February 17, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Southeastern Louisiana W 88–82  21–6
(15–1) 		 18 – J. Garcia   10 – J. Charles   6 – Q. Copeland  Pride Roofing University Center (1,218)
Hammond, LA
February 22, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Texas A&M–Corpus Christi W 73–57  22–6
(16–1) 		 16 – J. Charles   7 – C. Shumate   5 – B. Murray  The Legacy Center (4,032)
Lake Charles, LA
February 24, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		UT Rio Grande Valley W 100–65  23–6
(17–1) 		 19 – 2 tied   12 – J. Charles   8 – Q. Copeland  The Legacy Center (3,181)
Lake Charles, LA
March 1, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Lamar
Battle of the Border 		W 68–66  24–6
(18–1) 		 25 – S. Parker   7 – J. Garcia   6 – Q. Copeland  Neches Arena (5,746)
Beaumont, TX
March 3, 2025
6:30 p.m., ESPNU 		at Stephen F. Austin W 95–64  25–6
(19–1) 		 22 – S. Parker   9 – J. Charles   5 – Q. Copeland  William R. Johnson Coliseum (2,924)
Nacogdoches, TX
Southland tournament
March 11, 2025
6:00 p.m., ESPNU 		(1) (4) Northwestern State
Semifinals 		W 83–64  26–6
  24 – J. Garcia   9 – J. Charles   5 – 2 tied  The Legacy Center (3,782)
Lake Charles, LA
March 12, 2025
4:00 p.m., ESPN2 		(1) (2) Lamar
Championship 		W 63–54  27–6
  18 – Q. Copeland   7 – J. Charles   4 – Q. Copeland  The Legacy Center (4,106)
Lake Charles, LA
NCAA tournament
March 20, 2025*
2:15 p.m., TruTV 		(12 MW) vs. (5 MW) No. 12 Clemson
First Round 		W 69–67  28–6
  21 – B. Murray   11 – C. Shumate   5 – Q. Copeland  Amica Mutual Pavilion (11,441)
Providence, RI
March 22, 2025*
11:10 a.m., CBS 		(12 MW) vs. (4 MW) No. 22 Purdue
Second Round 		L 62–76  28–7
  17 – S. Parker   9 – C. Shumate   4 – 2 tied  Amica Mutual Pavilion (11,487)
Providence, RI
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
MW=Midwest.
All times are in Central.

Source:[9][10]

Conference awards and honors

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Weekly awards

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Weekly honors
Honors Player Position Date awarded Ref.
SLC Men's Basketball Player of the Week Sincere Parker G November 25, 2024 [11]
SLC Men's Basketball Player of the Week Javohn Garcia G January 6, 2025 [12]
SLC Men's Basketball Player of the Week Joe Charles F February 24, 2025 [13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2023-24 Men's Basketball Standings". Southland Conference. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Travis, Matthew (March 13, 2024). "McNeese Men's Basketball Advances to Southland Conference Championship for First Time in 12 Years". KPLC. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  3. ^ "Colonels fall in SLC title game at No. 1 McNeese". Nicholls State University Athletics. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  4. ^ "Wells scores 27 and McNeese beats Nicholls 92-76 for its first NCAA Tournament berth in 22 years". AP News. March 14, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  5. ^ "Latest bracket, schedule and scores for 2024 NCAA men's tournament". NCAA.com. March 12, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  6. ^ "Ike's perfect game leads hot-shooting Gonzaga to easy March Madness win over McNeese State". CBS Sports. AP. March 22, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Southland Conference Announces 2024 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll and All-Conference Team". Southland Conference. October 16, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  8. ^ Goss, Anthony (October 17, 2024). "Southland announces 2024 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, All-Conference team". Crescent City Sports Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  9. ^ "2024-25 Men's Basketball Schedule". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  10. ^ "McNeese Cowboys Schedule 2024-25". ESPN. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  11. ^ Goss, Anthony (November 25, 2024). "McNeese's Parker Named Jersey Mike's SLC Men's Basketball Player of the Week". Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  12. ^ Goss, Anthony (January 6, 2025). "McNeese's Garcia Named Jersey Mike's SLC Men's Basketball Player of the Week". Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  13. ^ Goss, Anthony (February 24, 2025). "McNeese's Charles Named Jersey Mike's SLC Men's Basketball Player of the Week". Retrieved March 9, 2025.
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