The McNeese State Cowboys, boasting a 20-5 overall record and 13-3 conference mark, are on the NCAA Tournament bubble, with their NET ranking of 64 and quad record of 0-2 Q1, 3-2 Q2, 4-0 Q3, and 11-1 Q4. Meanwhile, the East Texas A&M Lions, with a 9-15 overall record and 5-11 conference record, are in dire need of quality wins to build their tournament resume, currently ranked 282nd in the NET rankings with a quad record of 0-4 Q1, 0-1 Q2, 1-4 Q3, and 7-6 Q4. This matchup could be a crucial opportunity for East Texas A&M to gain some much-needed momentum, having gone 2-1 in their last three games, including a win and a loss by an average margin of 5.5 points.
McNeese State Cowboys Have a 75% Winning Percentage in Games Where They Score 80+ Points
The game is scheduled to take place on February 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET at The Field House, and will be available to stream on various platforms. With the McNeese State Cowboys favored by 12.3 points, according to the CHD Scout prediction, this contest promises to be an exciting showdown between two teams with differing levels of success this season, with McNeese State averaging 78.2 points per game and East Texas A&M averaging 69.5 points per game.
The McNeese State Cowboys have been impressive this season, with a 20-5 overall record and a 13-3 conference record, which puts them second in the Southland Conference standings, just 1.5 games behind the leader. They have a strong NET ranking of 64 and a quad record of 0-2 Q1, 3-2 Q2, 4-0 Q3, and 11-1 Q4, indicating their ability to compete against top-tier teams. Over their last three games, the Cowboys have gone 2-1, with an average margin of 8.3 points, and are looking to bounce back from their recent loss. With an average of 78.2 points per game, the Cowboys' high-powered offense want to exploit the East Texas A&M defense, which has allowed an average of 73.1 points per game.
Key Matchups
The East Texas A&M Lions, on the other hand, have struggled this season, with a 9-15 overall record and a 5-11 conference record, putting them 10th in the Southland Conference standings, 6.5 games behind the leader. They have a NET ranking of 282 and a quad record of 0-4 Q1, 0-1 Q2, 1-4 Q3, and 7-6 Q4, indicating their need for quality wins to boost their tournament resume. Over their last three games, the Lions have gone 2-1, with an average margin of 5.5 points, and are looking to build on their recent win. With an average of 69.5 points per game, the Lions' offense must be efficient to keep up with the Cowboys' high-scoring attack.
CHD Scout Prediction
McNeese
76
East Texas A&M
63
The key matchup in this game will be between the McNeese State offense, which averages 78.2 points per game, and the East Texas A&M defense, which allows an average of 73.1 points per game. The Cowboys' offense is led by their 45.1% field goal percentage, which ranks 50th in the nation, while the Lions' defense has struggled to contain opponents, allowing a 44.5% field goal percentage, which ranks 221st in the nation. Additionally, the Cowboys' 37.5% three-point shooting percentage, which ranks 20th in the nation, want to exploit the Lions' defense, which has allowed a 36.2% three-point shooting percentage, ranking 251st in the nation. The pace of the game will also be an interesting aspect, as the Cowboys average 72.1 possessions per game, while the Lions average 69.4 possessions per game.
For the McNeese State Cowboys, players to watch include their leading scorer, who averages 18.5 points per game, and their leading rebounder, who averages 8.1 rebounds per game. The Cowboys' bench has also been a key factor, with their reserves averaging 23.4 points per game. For the East Texas A&M Lions, players to watch include their leading scorer, who averages 15.6 points per game, and their leading rebounder, who averages 7.3 rebounds per game. The Lions' bench has struggled to produce, with their reserves averaging just 16.2 points per game.
Tournament Stakes
According to the CHD Scout prediction, the McNeese State Cowboys are favored to win by 12.3 points, with a win probability of 84.9% and a confidence level of 75.2%. This prediction is based on the teams' past performances, with the Cowboys' strong offense and the Lions' struggling defense being key factors. The prediction also takes into account the teams' recent form, with the Cowboys going 2-1 in their last three games and the Lions going 2-1 in their last three games.
This game has significant tournament implications for both teams. A win for the McNeese State Cowboys would boost their NCAA Tournament resume, improving their quad record and NET ranking. On the other hand, a win for the East Texas A&M Lions would be a much-needed quality win, improving their quad record and NET ranking, and potentially putting them back in the tournament conversation. For the Cowboys, this game is a Quad 4 game, while for the Lions, it is a Quad 2 game, making it a crucial opportunity for them to gain a quality win.