By Jason Pugh, Northwestern State Associate Athletic Director for External Relations; featured photo courtesy of the Southland Conference
LAKE CHARLES – Less than 24 hours after a scintillating finish to the Southland Conference Tournament quarterfinals, the Northwestern State men’s basketball team saw the roles reversed.
Top-seeded and tournament host McNeese was the faster starter Tuesday night while the Demons played second-half puncher.
Despite a valiant effort to try to erase a double-figure deficit, fourth-seeded Northwestern saw its tournament run come to an end with an 83-64 loss to the Cowboys inside the Legacy Center.
“I always tell my guys, ‘Give yourself a chance to win with four minutes left,’” second-year head coach Rick Cabrera said. “Whoever makes the fewest mistakes is going to win. That wasn’t us tonight. I want to give credit to Will Wade and his team. They’re the best team in the league. They’re big-time shot makers, and they take advantage of mistakes.”
The Demons (16-16) did not give themselves much of a chance in the first half. Northwestern committed eight turnovers that led to nine McNeese (26-6) points.
Coupled with a blistering start from the Cowboys, who hit 5 of their first 6 3-pointers, it led to a 17-point halftime deficit.
Much like Texas A&M-Corpus Christi did in Monday’s quarterfinal matchup, the Demons started quickly in the second half.
Micah Thomas keyed an 11-3 run to start the second half with a pair of 3-pointers. The second of Thomas’ 3s cut the lead to nine with 17:17 and was part of a fast start to the second half for both offenses.
Thomas’ quick 3s came in a stretch where six of seven possessions ended in made 3-pointers for both teams.
The hot shooting from long range continued for the Cowboys, who sank six of eight second-half 3-pointers and finished 11 for 19 from beyond the arc. In three games against Northwestern this season, McNeese shot 53.6 percent from behind the arc (37-for-69) and reached double figures in made 3s in all three games.
Despite the Cowboys’ long-range proficiency, the Demons remained competitive in the second half.
Northwestern limited its turnovers in the second half, cutting them in half, putting it in position to continue to slice into the lead.
Down by as many as 19 in the first half, the Demons cut the lead to five with 8:59 to play when Addison Patterson sank all three free throws after being fouled on a 3-pointer.
Northwestern had a chance to cut the lead to one possession, but a Thomas 3 rimmed out.
“I know a lot of people counted us out in the first half,” Cabrera said. “We came back and cut it to five. I told them at halftime, ‘Relax. We’ve been in this position before.’ That’s what they did. It wasn’t anything I did coaching wise.”
The Demons remained within striking distance for much of the next four minutes, standing within seven points after a Patterson jumper with 3:45 to play.
That stood as the last basket and the last point for the Demons as the Cowboys closed on a 12-0 surge to earn a repeat visit to the tournament championship game.
“We grew as a team (throughout the year),” Cabrera said. “We had some really good spurts through conference play. We started playing unselfish, playing relaxed. I’m so proud of my guys.
“College basketball is the longest season of any collegiate sport, so it’s said. When you have a good team and good guys, it’s sad when it ends. They fought hard.”