NCAAB · Final

McNeese Cowboys Defeat Vaqueros 75-68 at Home

Monday, February 23, 2026, 7:30 PM ET · Townsley Law Arena

McNeese Cowboys 75, UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 68, 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 UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros vs McNeese Cowboys?

McNeese Cowboys beat UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 75-68 at Townsley Law Arena on February 23, 2026.

Who was favored in UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros vs McNeese Cowboys?

McNeese Cowboys were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -900 (about 90% implied). The favorite won.

In a tightly contested matchup, the McNeese Cowboys secured a 75-68 victory over the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros at the Townsley Law Arena. This win extends McNeese's impressive home record to 25-5, while the Vaqueros fall to 16-14 on the season. The Cowboys showcased their strong form, having won five consecutive games and boasting a 9-1 record over their last ten outings. They averaged 74.7 points per game while allowing just 61.7 over this stretch, emphasizing their defensive prowess alongside their offensive capabilities.

The Cowboys entered the game with a recent victory against the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders, winning 70-54 on February 22. Their last five games have seen them average 79.2 points scored while allowing only 61.0 points, illustrating their current dominance on the court. McNeese's home record in their last ten games stands at 4-0, further solidifying their reputation as a formidable opponent at home.

On the other side, the Vaqueros also came into the game with strong momentum, having won nine of their last ten games. They recently triumphed over the SE Louisiana Lions with a score of 96-75 on February 21. During their recent stretch, the Vaqueros averaged 79.0 points scored and allowed 67.5 points per game. Their away record has been particularly impressive, as they have won all six of their last away games, showcasing their ability to perform outside their home arena.

Historically, this matchup has favored the Cowboys, who hold a 2-1 record against the Vaqueros in their last three meetings. The most recent encounter prior to this game was on January 17, 2026, where McNeese lost 76-79 in a close contest. However, they had previously defeated the Vaqueros convincingly in their earlier meetings, including a dominant 100-65 victory at home on February 25, 2025.

In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details on player availability, but the impact of any missing players could have influenced the game dynamics. The betting lines from DraftKings indicated that McNeese was favored by 11.5 points, with a total set at 146.5. The odds reflected confidence in the Cowboys' ability to secure a solid win, as evidenced by their -900 money line compared to the Vaqueros' +600.

The game conditions were conducive to a competitive atmosphere, with both teams eager to solidify their standings. As the game progressed, key moments included free throws from Jerrell Colbert and Carl Cherenfant, which helped the Cowboys maintain their lead in the closing minutes. The final scoring plays showcased the Cowboys' ability to execute under pressure, with Cherenfant's contributions proving vital in sealing the victory.

Viewers were treated to a display of resilience and skill from both teams, with the Cowboys ultimately prevailing through a combination of strong defense and timely scoring. The matchup not only highlighted the competitive spirit of both squads but also set the stage for future encounters as they approach the closing stretch of the season.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	MCN -11.5	146.5 o -110 / u -110	UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros +600 · McNeese Cowboys -900

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

Leaders

PointsLarry Johnson20McNeese Cowboys
AssistsGarwey Dual5McNeese Cowboys
ReboundsJerrell Colbert9McNeese Cowboys
PointsFilip Brankovic15UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
AssistsJaylen Washington5UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
ReboundsKoree Cotton8UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros

Recent form

McNeese Cowboys

Last 10: 9-1Streak W574.7 scored · 61.7 allowed per game4-0 at home

W70-54vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi IslandersFeb 22
W75-64at Northwestern State DemonsFeb 17
W97-54at East Texas A&M LionsFeb 14
W73-69vs Houston Christian HuskiesFeb 10
W81-64vs Incarnate Word CardinalsFeb 7
L60-67at Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksFeb 3
W64-63at Lamar CardinalsFeb 1
W76-66at SE Louisiana LionsJan 28
W82-63vs LSU New Orleans PrivateersJan 24
W69-53at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi IslandersJan 19

UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros

Last 10: 9-1Streak W279 scored · 67.5 allowed per game6-0 away

W96-75at SE Louisiana LionsFeb 21
W70-65vs Lamar CardinalsFeb 17
L57-66vs Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksFeb 14
W92-72at Nicholls ColonelsFeb 10
W95-76at LSU New Orleans PrivateersFeb 7
W74-57vs Houston Christian HuskiesFeb 3
W106-93at Incarnate Word CardinalsJan 31
W64-55at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi IslandersJan 27
W68-51at Houston Christian HuskiesJan 24
W68-65vs SE Louisiana LionsJan 20

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	UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros	McNeese Cowboys
Field goals	25-50	25-58
Field goal %	50	43
Three-pointers	8-27	4-18
Three-point %	30	22
Free throws	10-17	21-29
Free throw %	59	72
Rebounds	33	35
Offensive rebounds	6	13
Defensive rebounds	27	22
Assists	12	15
Steals	6	13
Blocks	2	2
Turnovers	17	10
Team turnovers	1	0
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	8	17
Fast-break points	7	12
Points in the paint	28	38
Fouls	21	15
Largest lead	2	12
Lead changes	6	6
Time in front	13	83

How the scoring went

2nd Half39-42Dane Christensen makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jaylen Washington assists)
2nd Half39-44Yanis Ndjonga makes layup
2nd Half41-44Jaylen Washington makes 10-foot jumper
2nd Half41-45Larry Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half41-46Larry Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half41-48Larry Johnson makes 20-foot jumper
2nd Half43-48Dane Christensen makes driving layup (Always Wright assists)
2nd Half44-48Dane Christensen makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half44-50Garwey Dual makes layup
2nd Half47-50Marvin McGhee III makes 22-foot three point jumper
2nd Half47-51Larry Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half47-52Larry Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half47-53Jerrell Colbert makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half47-54Jerrell Colbert makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half48-54Koree Cotton makes free throw 2 of 3
2nd Half49-54Koree Cotton makes free throw 3 of 3
2nd Half49-56Larry Johnson makes 21-foot jumper
2nd Half51-56Filip Brankovic makes layup (Koree Cotton assists)
2nd Half53-56Filip Brankovic makes layup (Jaylen Washington assists)
2nd Half53-57Carl Cherenfant makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half55-57Zae Blake makes driving layup (Jaylen Washington assists)
2nd Half55-60DJ Richards Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Garwey Dual assists)
2nd Half56-60Koree Cotton makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half57-60Koree Cotton makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half57-63Tyshawn Archie makes 23-foot three point jumper (Garwey Dual assists)
2nd Half57-65Garwey Dual makes 3-foot dunk (Larry Johnson assists)
2nd Half60-65Jaylen Washington makes 23-foot three point jumper
2nd Half60-66DJ Richards Jr. makes free throw 1 of 3
2nd Half60-67DJ Richards Jr. makes free throw 2 of 3
2nd Half60-69Carl Cherenfant makes driving layup (Larry Johnson assists)
2nd Half61-69Jaylen Washington makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half63-69Zae Blake makes layup
2nd Half63-70Jerrell Colbert makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half63-71Garwey Dual makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half65-71Jaylen Washington makes layup
2nd Half65-72Tyshawn Archie makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half65-73Jerrell Colbert makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half65-74Carl Cherenfant makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half65-75Carl Cherenfant makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half68-75Marvin McGhee III makes 24-foot three point jumper

Win probability

Above the line favours McNeese Cowboys, below favours UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros.