- Matchup: McNeese Cowboys vs Northwestern State Demons
- Date: Monday, February 16, 2026
- Venue: Prather Coliseum, Natchitoches, LA
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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On Monday, the Northwestern State Demons (7-18) will face off against the McNeese Cowboys (20-5) at the Prather Coliseum.
In their latest game, the McNeese Cowboys secured a narrow victory against Houston Christian, winning 73-69. The Cowboys achieved a field goal percentage of 53.7% (29 of 54) and converted 3 of their 10 attempts from beyond the arc. From the free throw line, they made 12 of 17 shots, totaling a 70.6% success rate. On the boards, McNeese recorded 24 rebounds, with 4 being offensive, while also providing 14 assists. They forced 12 turnovers from their opponents and recorded 10 steals. Defensively, McNeese permitted their opponent to shoot at 43.4% (23 of 53). Houston Christian managed 15 assists and 8 steals in the match, while securing 26 rebounds, split into 6 offensive and 20 defensive. They excelled at the charity stripe, shooting 89.5% by making 17 of 19 attempts, but struggled with three-pointers, hitting only 6 out of 20 tries. The Cowboys committed 16 fouls compared to Houston Christian’s 15.
Key player Javohn Garcia had a substantial impact, scoring 18 points on 8 of 14 shooting over 36 minutes, adding 2 rebounds and 4 assists.
McNeese heads into this contest with a commendable 20-5 record for the season. The Cowboys are averaging 80.9 points per game (ranked 86th nationally) while shooting 47.5% from the field. They have a three-point shooting percentage of 32.1% (163 of 508) and are hitting 76.6% from the free throw line. Collectively, McNeese grabs 35.1 rebounds per game and has dished out 363 assists this season, ranking 153rd nationwide in assists. They average 10.0 turnovers per game and commit 19.0 personal fouls.
On the defensive side, the Cowboys are forcing 16.9 turnovers per game and committing 17.9 personal fouls. They rank 121st in college basketball for allowing assists, having conceded 316 assists this season. Their opponents shoot at a 40.8% rate (542 out of 1,329) against them, while McNeese allows 33.0 rebounds per game as a unit. They permit 34.1% on three-point attempts and rank 35th nationally for points allowed per game (67.4).
In their last outing, the Northwestern State Demons triumphed over Lamar with a close score of 70-68. On the boards, Northwestern State allowed Lamar to register 36 rebounds (8 offensive). They shot 37.5% from three-point range, connecting on 6 of 16 attempts, and finished at 72.7% from the free throw line (16 of 22). Lamar managed to shoot 41.1% from the floor, scoring 23 out of their 56 attempts. The Demons shot a solid 44.6% from the field (25 of 56) and excelled at three-pointers, hitting 7 of 18 (38.9%). They converted 13 of 20 free throw attempts for a 65.0% completion rate. Lamar received 19 fouls during the game, sending the Demons to the free throw line. The Northwestern State squad forced 8 turnovers while acquiring 9 steals, and they collected a total of 30 rebounds (23 defensive, 7 offensive).
Micah Thomas played a pivotal role in the game, scoring 14 points on 3 of 14 shooting, securing 1 rebound, and dishing out 4 assists in 32 minutes on the court.
Northwestern State holds a 7-18 overall record this season. Offensively, the Demons are hitting 44.3% from the field, placing them 246th nationally. They have scored 1,759 points this season (70.4 per game) while averaging 31.1 rebounds. They average 12.6 assists per game (ranked 284th in the nation) and turn the ball over 11.9 times per game. Per game, the Demons commit 17.4 personal fouls and convert 73.7% of their free throw attempts.
Defensively, the Demons are ranked 213th in points allowed per game at 74.7. They force 11.6 turnovers per game and allow opponents to shoot 46.7% from the field (313th in college). Their defense consents to 36.2% from beyond the arc (193 of 533) and allows 70.6% on free throw attempts. Northwestern State permits 14.1 assists and 34.7 rebounds per game, ranking 239th and 195th, respectively.
Who will clinch victory in tonight’s NCAA showdown against the spread?
Prediction: Back McNeese
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