NCAAB · Final

McNeese Cowboys Edge Lamar Cardinals in Close Contest

Saturday, January 31, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Montagne Center

McNeese Cowboys 64, Lamar Cardinals 63, 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 McNeese Cowboys vs Lamar Cardinals?

McNeese Cowboys beat Lamar Cardinals 64-63 at Montagne Center on January 31, 2026.

Who was favored in McNeese Cowboys vs Lamar Cardinals?

McNeese Cowboys were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -675 (about 87% implied). The favorite won.

In a tightly contested matchup at the Montagne Center, the McNeese Cowboys narrowly defeated the Lamar Cardinals with a final score of 64-63. This game was particularly noteworthy as it marked the fifth consecutive victory for McNeese over Lamar in their head-to-head series, extending Lamar's struggles against this opponent.

McNeese entered the game with a strong away record of 18-4, while Lamar had a home record of 11-11. The Cowboys have been in good form, boasting a record of 8-2 over their last ten games and currently riding a three-game winning streak. They averaged 76.7 points per game during this stretch, while allowing 70.4 points. In contrast, Lamar's recent form showed a record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games, with an average of 64.7 points scored and 62.9 points allowed. The Cardinals were looking to improve their performance after a mixed stretch, which included a recent win against East Texas A&M Lions, where they won decisively 82-61.

The game itself was a nail-biter, with McNeese holding a slight edge throughout. The Cowboys' scoring was led by key free throws in the second half, including a pair from DJ Richards Jr. that pushed their lead to 62-57. Lamar, however, fought back, with Andrew Holifield and Rob Lee Jr. contributing crucial points to keep the game close. Ultimately, McNeese managed to maintain their lead, thanks to free throws from Garwey Dual that put them ahead 64-61. Lamar's final push came with a layup from Rob Lee Jr., but it wasn't enough to secure the win.

In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any key players missing from either side, which allowed both teams to field their strongest lineups. The conditions in the Montagne Center were typical for a college basketball game, with a charged atmosphere as both teams vied for a critical victory.

The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had McNeese favored by 10.5 points, with a total set at 144.5. The odds reflected McNeese's strong season and recent form, while Lamar's performance at home had been inconsistent, contributing to the spread.

This matchup was significant not only for the standings but also for the psychological edge it provided McNeese over Lamar. With this victory, the Cowboys improved their head-to-head record against the Cardinals to 5-0 in their last five meetings, further establishing dominance in this rivalry.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	MCN -10.5	144.5 o -105 / u -115	McNeese Cowboys -675 · Lamar Cardinals +490

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Leaders

PointsRob Lee Jr.25Lamar Cardinals
AssistsKing-Njhsanni Wilhite6Lamar Cardinals
ReboundsBraden East13Lamar Cardinals
PointsLarry Johnson22McNeese Cowboys
AssistsTyshawn Archie3McNeese Cowboys
ReboundsJerrell Colbert12McNeese Cowboys

Recent form

Lamar Cardinals

Last 10: 5-4-1Streak W164.7 scored · 62.9 allowed per game3-1 at home

W82-61vs East Texas A&M LionsJan 28
D0-0vs East Texas A&M LionsJan 27
L81-88vs Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksJan 24
L76-89at LSU New Orleans PrivateersJan 20
W90-80at Nicholls ColonelsJan 17
W64-56vs Houston Christian HuskiesJan 13
W63-51vs Incarnate Word CardinalsJan 11
L52-60at SE Louisiana LionsJan 6
L70-82at McNeese CowboysJan 3
W69-62at East Texas A&M LionsDec 31

McNeese Cowboys

Last 10: 8-2Streak W376.7 scored · 70.4 allowed per game3-2 away

W76-66at SE Louisiana LionsJan 28
W82-63vs LSU New Orleans PrivateersJan 24
W69-53at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi IslandersJan 19
L76-79at UT Rio Grande Valley VaquerosJan 17
W94-68vs Nicholls ColonelsJan 13
W73-61vs SE Louisiana LionsJan 10
W66-64vs Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksJan 6
W82-70vs Lamar CardinalsJan 3
L71-112at Michigan WolverinesDec 30
W78-68at Houston Christian HuskiesDec 16

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	McNeese Cowboys	Lamar Cardinals
Field goals	20-54	23-61
Field goal %	37	38
Three-pointers	7-17	8-21
Three-point %	41	38
Free throws	17-19	9-12
Free throw %	89	75
Rebounds	33	43
Offensive rebounds	12	20
Defensive rebounds	21	23
Assists	11	16
Steals	6	3
Blocks	8	3
Turnovers	7	10
Team turnovers	0	1
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	14	7
Fast-break points	20	4
Points in the paint	24	16
Fouls	12	12
Largest lead	8	3
Lead changes	10	10
Time in front	85	13

How the scoring went

2nd Half33-28Tyshawn Archie makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half35-28Jerrell Colbert makes layup
2nd Half35-30Braden East makes layup (Rob Lee Jr. assists)
2nd Half35-31Braden East makes free throw 1 of 1
2nd Half35-34Rob Lee Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Errol White assists)
2nd Half37-34Jacolb Fredson-Cole makes layup
2nd Half38-34Jerrell Colbert makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half39-34Jerrell Colbert makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half39-36Rob Lee Jr. makes 9-foot jumper
2nd Half39-38Braden East makes layup (Errol White assists)
2nd Half39-40Braden East makes 19-foot jumper (King-Njhsanni Wilhite assists)
2nd Half40-40Jerrell Colbert makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half41-40Jerrell Colbert makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half41-42Andrew Holifield makes 17-foot jumper
2nd Half41-44Janko Bulajic makes 2-foot dunk (Jayden Gambrell assists)
2nd Half44-44DJ Richards Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jerrell Colbert assists)
2nd Half44-47Rob Lee Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (King-Njhsanni Wilhite assists)
2nd Half45-47Larry Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half48-47Larry Johnson makes 22-foot three point jumper (Javohn Garcia assists)
2nd Half48-48Rob Lee Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half48-49Rob Lee Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half50-49Larry Johnson makes layup (Garwey Dual assists)
2nd Half50-50Rob Lee Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half50-51Rob Lee Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half51-51DJ Richards Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half52-51DJ Richards Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half54-51Larry Johnson makes 2-foot dunk (Jerrell Colbert assists)
2nd Half54-53Errol White makes 20-foot jumper (King-Njhsanni Wilhite assists)
2nd Half57-53Larry Johnson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Garwey Dual assists)
2nd Half57-55King-Njhsanni Wilhite makes 17-foot jumper
2nd Half60-55Garwey Dual makes 24-foot three point jumper (Larry Johnson assists)
2nd Half60-56Braden East makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half60-57Braden East makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half61-57DJ Richards Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half62-57DJ Richards Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half62-59Andrew Holifield makes layup
2nd Half62-61Rob Lee Jr. makes 15-foot jumper
2nd Half63-61Garwey Dual makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half64-61Garwey Dual makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half64-63Rob Lee Jr. makes layup