LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — In a rugged Southland Conference clash defined by defense and second chances, the McNeese State Cowboys overcame a sluggish offensive start and a persistent Texas-Rio Grande Valley squad to secure a 75-68 victory on Monday night at Burton Coliseum.

The win, played before a crowd of 2,872, improved McNeese State’s record to 24-5 overall and solidified its position atop the league. The Vaqueros fell to 16-13 despite a spirited second-half push that saw them erase a 12-point halftime deficit.

The game’s pivotal dynamic was established early and never truly shifted. McNeese State, despite shooting just 43.1% from the field and 22.2% from three-point range, generated a decisive advantage in extra opportunities. The Cowboys corralled 11 offensive rebounds, leading to 13 second-chance points, and their aggressive defense forced 16 Vaquero turnovers, converting them into 19 points. Texas-Rio Grande Valley, by contrast, managed only four offensive boards and scored just four points off 10 McNeese State turnovers.

McNeese State guard Larry Johnson, a 6-foot-4 junior from Savannah, Georgia, was the engine for the Cowboys, scoring a game-high 20 points. His ability to attack the rim provided a crucial counterpoint on a night when perimeter shots were not falling consistently for either side. He was supported by a balanced effort that saw Tyshawn Archie add 15 points and three assists, while Jerrell Colbert contributed 10 points, two blocks, and a game-high four offensive rebounds that epitomized his team’s effort.

The first half was a story of defensive pressure and missed opportunities for the visitors. The Vaqueros shot a respectable 50% from the floor but were undone by 10 turnovers and a stark disparity at the free-throw line. McNeese State attempted 16 first-half free throws, making 10, while UTRGV went to the line only three times, making one. This, combined with the Cowboys’ 8-2 edge in steals, allowed the home team to build a 34-22 lead at the break despite shooting 37.1% from the field.

UTRGV emerged from halftime with renewed purpose, opening the second period with a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to 38-34 within the first four minutes. The Vaqueros’ offense, led by forward Filip Brankovic and guard Jaylen Washington, found a rhythm. Brankovic, a 6-foot-6 sophomore from Indija, Serbia, finished with 15 points, while Washington, the 5-10 floor general from Dallas, tallied 12 points and five assists.

McNeese State repeatedly answered every Vaquero surge. When UTRGV closed to within 44-40, the Cowboys responded with a 6-0 spurt. When the lead was trimmed to 56-52 with just over six minutes to play, consecutive three-pointers from DJ Richards and Tyshawn Archie pushed the margin back to 10 with 3:54 remaining, effectively sealing the outcome.

The final minutes became a parade to the free-throw line for McNeese State, which finished 21 of 29 from the stripe compared to UTRGV’s 10-of-17 performance. The Cowboys’ offensive rating of 106.0 on 71 possessions ultimately outpaced the Vaqueros’ 97.0 rating on 70 trips, underscoring the efficiency gap created by turnovers and free throws.

UTRGV’s Koree Cotton finished with 10 points, and Dane Christensen added seven points and a block. For McNeese State, Garwey Dual filled the stat sheet with nine points, five assists, and three steals, and Jacolb Fredson-Cole provided key energy off the bench with six points and two steals.

The victory completed a regular-season split for the Cowboys, who fell to the Vaqueros 79-76 in Edinburg on Jan. 17. McNeese State will look to continue its conference momentum on the road at New Orleans on Saturday. Texas-Rio Grande Valley returns home to host Texas A&M-Commerce, also on Saturday.