- Matchup: UTRGV Vaqueros vs. McNeese Cowboys
- Date: Monday, February 23, 2026
- Venue: Townsley Law Arena, Lake Charles, LA
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The McNeese Cowboys (23-5) are set to face the UTRGV Vaqueros (16-12) at Townsley Law Arena this Monday.
In their last outing, the UTRGV Vaqueros secured a commanding victory against SE Louisiana, ending the game with a score of 96-75. In terms of fouls, the Vaqueros committed 21, while SE Louisiana had 13. They struggled from beyond the arc, making only 4 of their 17 attempts. SE Louisiana managed a 65.7% success rate at the free-throw line, converting 23 of 35 chances. The SE Louisiana team collected 25 rebounds (11 offensive, 14 defensive) but did not register a block. On the other hand, they achieved 12 assists and swiped 5 steals during the match. Defensively, UT Rio Grande allowed a field goal percentage of 45.3%, with opponents shooting 24 of 53. The Vaqueros dished out 22 assists while forcing 6 turnovers and earning 4 steals. In total, they secured 24 rebounds, 4 of which were on the offensive end. From the charity stripe, the Vaqueros excelled, converting 18 of 19 free throws, for an impressive 94.7% rate. Overall, UT Rio Grande finished with a field goal percentage of 62.0%, hitting 31 of 50 attempts and sinking 16 of 28 three-pointers.
Key player Filip Brankovic stood out, shooting 85.7% from the field, contributing 3 assists, and logging 3 rebounds in just 17 minutes of play. He totaled 18 points on 6 of 7 shooting.
UT Rio Grande approaches this game with a current record of 16-12. They average 76.2 points per game (ranking 172nd in D-1) and shoot 47.1% from the floor. The Vaqueros have a 3-point shooting percentage of 37.6% (264 of 703) and convert 76.2% of their free throws. On average, they secure 34.9 rebounds per game and boast 472 assists this season, ranking 34th nationally. They average 11.6 turnovers and commit 17.9 fouls per game.
Defensively, the Vaqueros force an average of 11.3 turnovers while committing 15.8 fouls. Opponents shoot 31.0% from beyond the arc, and their average points allowed stands at 69.6, ranking 73rd in the nation. The Vaqueros’ defense permits an overall shooting percentage of 41.5% (666 of 1,603) and allows 33.9 rebounds per game, ranking them 228th in college basketball for assists allowed, with 385 surrendered this season.
In their previous match, the McNeese Cowboys emerged victorious over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, finishing 70-54. They secured 22 defensive and 10 offensive rebounds, totaling 32. The Cowboys committed 10 turnovers but recorded 11 steals. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi accumulated 19 personal fouls, leading to 22 free throw attempts for the Cowboys, of which they made 16, achieving a 72.7% rate. From three-point range, McNeese connected on 4 of 18 attempts (22.2%). Their final shooting stats included 25 of 57 from the floor (43.9%). Defensively, the Cowboys allowed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to achieve a 44.4% field goal percentage, with opponents shooting 9 of 22 from three-point territory (40.9%) and 5 of 8 at the charity stripe (62.5%). McNeese permitted 28 rebounds, 6 of which were offensive.
Larry Johnson was a standout for the Cowboys, scoring 23 points in 36 minutes and contributing 4 assists. He shot 9 of 17 for a conversion rate of 52.9% and recorded 10 rebounds.
Currently, McNeese boasts a record of 23-5 for the season. Offensively, they shoot 47.4% from the field (56th in D-1) and have accumulated 2,265 points (averaging 80.9 per game). They secure 35.0 rebounds each game, dish out 14.4 assists per game (155th in D-1), and average only 9.6 turnovers. The Cowboys commit 18.7 fouls per game and shoot at a 75.8% success rate from the free-throw line.
The Cowboys’ defense allows opponents to shoot 33.4% from three-point range (234 of 701) and permits 72.5% at the free-throw line. They concede an average of 12.5 assists and 32.9 rebounds each game, ranking 110th and 86th nationally respectively. Defensively, McNeese ranks 21st in the nation for points allowed (66.4) and forces an average of 16.9 turnovers per game, allowing opponents to shoot 40.7% from the field (36th in the country).
Which team will cover the spread in tonight’s NCAA matchup?
Pick: Choose McNeese.
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