Cowboys Look to Secure No. 2 Seed in Southland Tournament

McNeese State hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in nationally televised matchup

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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The McNeese State Cowboys basketball team is set to host the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders in a nationally televised Southland Conference matchup on Saturday night. The Cowboys are looking to secure the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Southland Conference tournament, which they will host in March. McNeese is currently two games behind Stephen F. Austin in the conference standings with four games remaining in the regular season.

Why it matters

This game has major implications for the Southland Conference tournament seeding. The Cowboys are trying to lock up the No. 2 seed and a double-bye to the semifinals, while the Islanders are fighting to stay in third or fourth place to earn a single bye. The game will also be broadcast nationally on ESPNU, providing increased exposure for the McNeese program.

The details

The Cowboys have been dominant at home, winning 25 straight games overall and 32 consecutive Southland Conference contests at Townsley Law Arena. They are led by a balanced scoring attack, with Larry Johnson, Carl Cherenfant, and Tyshawn Archie all averaging double figures. The Islanders will counter with Sheldon Williams and the return of Mason Gibson, who missed the first matchup between the teams due to injury.

  • The game will tipoff at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 20, 2026.
  • McNeese previously beat Corpus Christi 69-53 on the road on January 1, 2026.
  • The Cowboys will conclude their regular-season home schedule on Monday, March 2, 2026 against Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

The players

Bill Armstrong

The head coach of the McNeese State Cowboys basketball team.

Larry Johnson

A leading scorer for the McNeese State Cowboys, he had 17 points in the first matchup against Corpus Christi.

Sheldon Williams

The leading scorer for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders, he had 13 points in the first game against McNeese.

Mason Gibson

A key player for the Islanders who missed the first game against McNeese due to injury, but is now back in the lineup.

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What they’re saying

“It is great for our fans and for our program to have this game televised. It is always great to be at home.”

— Bill Armstrong, Head Coach, McNeese State Cowboys (americanpress.com)

“We take pride in playing at home. We hold court at home; that is our standard.”

— Bill Armstrong, Head Coach, McNeese State Cowboys (americanpress.com)

What’s next

The winner of this game will be one step closer to securing the No. 2 seed in the Southland Conference tournament. The Cowboys will conclude their regular-season home schedule on Monday, March 2 against Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

The takeaway

This nationally televised Southland Conference matchup between the McNeese State Cowboys and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders has major implications for the conference tournament seeding. The Cowboys' dominant home record and balanced scoring attack make them the favorites, but the Islanders will look to pull off the upset and improve their tournament positioning.