McNeese State Cowboys Dominate Nicholls State Colonels in Regular Season Finale

McNeese State looks to lock up Southland Conference regular season title with convincing win over Nicholls State

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The McNeese State Cowboys will face off against the Nicholls State Colonels in the regular season finale for both teams on Monday night. McNeese State enters as a heavy 10.5-point favorite after defeating Nicholls State by 26 points in their previous matchup earlier this season. The Cowboys have been dominant all year, ranking near the top of the country in several key statistical categories on both offense and defense.

Why it matters

This game has major implications for the Southland Conference standings, as McNeese State looks to clinch the regular season title and the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. Nicholls State, meanwhile, is fighting to secure one of the eight tournament spots, making this a crucial game for their postseason hopes.

The details

McNeese State is led by Larry Johnson, who is averaging 16.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. Tyshawn Archie and Javohn Garcia also average double-figure scoring for the Cowboys. As a team, McNeese State ranks 82nd in the country in scoring offense, 40th in offensive rating, and 3rd in steals generated. Defensively, they are holding opponents to just 66.3 points per game, which ranks 22nd nationally. Nicholls State is paced by Jalik Dunkley, Jaylen Searles, and Sincere Malone, but the Colonels have struggled on both ends of the floor this season, ranking outside the top 250 in several key metrics.

  • This is the second matchup of the season between these two Southland Conference opponents.
  • McNeese State defeated Nicholls State 94-68 in the first meeting on January 15, 2026.
  • Monday's game will be the regular season finale for both teams.

The players

Larry Johnson

The leading scorer for McNeese State, averaging 16.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game.

Tyshawn Archie

Averages 14.1 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for the Cowboys.

Javohn Garcia

The third McNeese State player averaging in double-figure scoring at 11.3 points per game.

Jalik Dunkley

The leading scorer for Nicholls State, averaging 12.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

Sincere Malone

Leads the Southland Conference in steals per game at 2.1 for the Colonels.

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What they’re saying

“We must be prepared to finish the regular season strong and lock up the top seed in the conference tournament.”

— Larry Johnson, McNeese State Forward (McNeese State Athletics)

“This is a crucial game for us as we fight to secure one of the tournament spots. We'll need to play our best basketball to have a chance against a talented McNeese State team.”

— Jalik Dunkley, Nicholls State Forward (Nicholls State Athletics)

What’s next

The winner of Monday's game will earn the top seed in the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament, which begins on March 5th.

The takeaway

McNeese State's dominant defense and balanced scoring attack should be too much for Nicholls State to overcome, as the Cowboys look to cap off the regular season with a convincing victory and secure the Southland Conference regular season title.