McNeese Cowboys Defeat Lamar Cardinals 82-70
Friday, January 2, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Townsley Law Arena
McNeese Cowboys 82, Lamar Cardinals 70, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Lamar Cardinals vs McNeese Cowboys?
McNeese Cowboys beat Lamar Cardinals 82-70 at Townsley Law Arena on January 2, 2026.
Who was favored in Lamar Cardinals vs McNeese Cowboys?
McNeese Cowboys were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -2100 (about 95% implied). The favorite won.
In an exciting matchup at the Townsley Law Arena, the McNeese Cowboys triumphed over the Lamar Cardinals with a final score of 82-70. This victory not only showcased McNeese's strong home performance but also extended their winning streak against Lamar to three consecutive games, having previously defeated them on March 12, March 2, and January 18 of the same season.
The Cowboys, boasting an impressive home record of 11-3, have shown resilience throughout the season. Their recent form reflects an 8-2 record over the last ten games, although they faced a setback in their most recent outing against the Michigan Wolverines, losing 71-112. Despite this loss, McNeese has maintained a strong average of 80.1 points scored per game while allowing 70.5 points. Their home performance has been particularly dominant, with a perfect 5-0 record at home in their last five games, averaging 81.8 points scored and 72.8 points allowed.
On the other hand, the Lamar Cardinals entered the game with a record of 7-7 and a recent performance of 5-5 over the last ten games. They are currently on a two-game winning streak, having secured victories against the East Texas A&M Lions and the Northwestern State Demons. However, their overall scoring average of 71.0 points per game, coupled with an average of 68.4 points allowed, indicates a struggle to match the offensive output of their opponents.
In terms of home and away performance, McNeese has excelled at home with a record of 5-0 in their last five games, while Lamar has had a mixed bag on the road, holding a 3-1 record in away games but struggling overall with a 2-4 record at home.
The betting market reflected McNeese's strong position going into the game, with DraftKings setting the spread at -16.5 in favor of the Cowboys. The total points line was set at 145.5, with both the over and under priced at -110. McNeese was heavily favored with a moneyline of -2100, while Lamar was listed at +1100.
In terms of injuries, the block does not specify any key players missing from either team, allowing both squads to field their best lineups for this crucial matchup.
The game conditions were conducive to a competitive atmosphere, with fans eager to witness the rivalry unfold. As the game progressed, McNeese showcased their offensive prowess, highlighted by a series of free throws from Garwey Dual and Rob Lee Jr. in the second half, contributing to their scoring surge.
Overall, the matchup between the McNeese Cowboys and Lamar Cardinals proved to be a significant fixture in the NCAAB landscape, illustrating the Cowboys' dominance at home and their continued success against the Cardinals.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MCN -16.5 | 145.5 o -110 / u -110 | Lamar Cardinals +1100 · McNeese Cowboys -2100 |
Leaders
- PointsLarry Johnson19McNeese Cowboys
- AssistsGarwey Dual4McNeese Cowboys
- ReboundsCarl Cherenfant8McNeese Cowboys
- PointsAndrew Holifield21Lamar Cardinals
- AssistsKing-Njhsanni Wilhite4Lamar Cardinals
- ReboundsBraden East10Lamar Cardinals
Recent form
McNeese Cowboys
Last 10: 8-2Streak L180.1 scored · 70.5 allowed per game5-0 at home
- L71-112at Michigan WolverinesDec 30
- W78-68at Houston Christian HuskiesDec 16
- W102-66vs East Texas A&M LionsDec 13
- W66-64at Rhode Island RamsDec 10
- W92-54vs Northwestern State DemonsDec 6
- L67-71at Incarnate Word CardinalsDec 2
- W72-62vs Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersNov 25
- W73-60vs Murray State RacersNov 25
- W92-86at George Washington RevolutionariesNov 23
- W88-62vs Louisiana Ragin' CajunsNov 15
Lamar Cardinals
Last 10: 5-5Streak W271 scored · 68.4 allowed per game3-1 away
- W69-62at East Texas A&M LionsDec 31
- W76-61at Northwestern State DemonsDec 30
- L82-85vs Omaha MavericksDec 21
- L72-83vs UT Rio Grande Valley VaquerosDec 17
- L71-89at San Diego State AztecsDec 11
- L49-57vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi IslandersDec 7
- W65-55vs Louisiana Ragin' CajunsDec 4
- W90-46vs Our Lady of the Lake SaintsNov 30
- L68-83vs Oakland Golden GrizzliesNov 24
- W68-63at Montana GrizzliesNov 23
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen F. Austin | 28-6 | - | 20-2 |
| McNeese | 28-6 | 1 | 19-3 |
| UT Rio Grande Valley | 19-14 | 6 | 14-8 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 18-15 | 7 | 13-9 |
| LSU New Orleans | 15-18 | 8 | 12-10 |
| Nicholls | 14-19 | 8 | 12-10 |
| Houston Christian | 12-20 | 12 | 8-14 |
| Northwestern State | 10-22 | 12 | 8-14 |
| Incarnate Word | 12-19 | 13 | 7-15 |
| Lamar | 12-19 | 13 | 7-15 |
| East Texas A&M | 11-21 | 14 | 6-16 |
| SE Louisiana | 9-22 | 14 | 6-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Lamar Cardinals | McNeese Cowboys |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 18-54 | 23-48 |
| Field goal % | 33 | 48 |
| Three-pointers | 9-29 | 6-18 |
| Three-point % | 31 | 33 |
| Free throws | 25-31 | 30-40 |
| Free throw % | 81 | 75 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 37 |
| Offensive rebounds | 19 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 17 | 23 |
| Assists | 11 | 8 |
| Steals | 3 | 9 |
| Blocks | 1 | 7 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 8 |
| Fast-break points | 0 | 2 |
| Points in the paint | 14 | 26 |
| Fouls | 26 | 24 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 15 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 27 | 71 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half45-51Rob Lee Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Spencer Ezewiro assists)
- 2nd Half45-52Peitok Machar makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-53Peitok Machar makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-53Andrew Holifield makes 23-foot three point jumper (Rob Lee Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half48-55Tyshawn Archie makes layup
- 2nd Half48-56Carl Cherenfant makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-57Carl Cherenfant makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-58Jerrell Colbert makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-58King-Njhsanni Wilhite makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-58King-Njhsanni Wilhite makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-58Errol White makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-58Errol White makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-61Tyshawn Archie makes 24-foot three point jumper (Garwey Dual assists)
- 2nd Half53-61Eian Lowe makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-61Eian Lowe makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-63Tyshawn Archie makes layup
- 2nd Half54-64Javohn Garcia makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-65Javohn Garcia makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-65Andrew Holifield makes 24-foot three point jumper (Eian Lowe assists)
- 2nd Half57-67Peitok Machar makes 1-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half58-67Andrew Holifield makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-69Larry Johnson makes 0-foot dunk (Carl Cherenfant assists)
- 2nd Half60-69King-Njhsanni Wilhite makes layup
- 2nd Half60-70Carl Cherenfant makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-71Carl Cherenfant makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-73Javohn Garcia makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-75Garwey Dual makes 11-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half63-75Rob Lee Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Eian Lowe assists)
- 2nd Half63-76Javohn Garcia makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-77Javohn Garcia makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-77Braden East makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-77Braden East makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-78Jerrell Colbert makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-78Rob Lee Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-78Rob Lee Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-79Garwey Dual makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-80Garwey Dual makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-81Garwey Dual makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-82Garwey Dual makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-82Rob Lee Jr. makes 26-foot three point jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours McNeese Cowboys, below favours Lamar Cardinals.
Venue
- Townsley Law ArenaLake Charles, LA
- Attendance4612
- OfficialsJason Baker, Wil Howard, Vladimir Voyard-Tadal
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond