McNeese State Dominates Incarnate Word 81-64 Behind Balanced Attack

McNeese State asserted its dominance over Incarnate Word, cruising to an 81-64 victory at Townsley Law Arena. The Cowboys' win was fueled by a balanced attack, with three players scoring 17 points, including Larry Johnson, Jerrell Colbert, and Tyshawn Archie. Johnson also added 5 rebounds to his stat line, showcasing his all-around skills. The trio's impressive performance was too much for Incarnate Word to handle, as McNeese State improved to 19-5 on the season.

The game got off to a slow start, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm in the first half. McNeese State managed just 30 points in the opening period, but still held a 30-30 tie at halftime. However, the Cowboys came out firing in the second half, scoring 51 points to pull away from Incarnate Word. Tahj Staveskie did his best to keep the Cardinals in the game, scoring a team-high 19 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Cowboys' onslaught.

The win was predicted by CHD Scout, who had McNeese State winning by 18.8 points. The actual margin of 17 points was close to the predicted score, validating the scouting report. McNeese State's performance was a reflection of its strength as a team, as it was able to overcome a sluggish start to dominate the second half.

The loss drops Incarnate Word to 10-14 on the season, but the Cardinals can take solace in the fact that this was a Quadrant 1 game for them. Despite the defeat, Incarnate Word's schedule has been challenging, and this game will still be viewed as a valuable experience for the team. On the other hand, this was a Quadrant 4 game for McNeese State, which means the win won't carry as much weight in terms of resume-building. Nevertheless, the Cowboys' dominant performance will still be a confidence booster as they continue their push for a strong tournament seeding.

With this win, McNeese State improves its NET ranking to 62, solidifying its position as a potential tournament contender. While the Cowboys still have work to do to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament, their performance against Incarnate Word demonstrates their ability to take care of business against lesser opponents. As the season enters its final stretch, McNeese State want to build on this momentum and make a strong case for a tournament bid.