LAKE CHARLES, La. – McNeese drilled 13 three-pointers and shot 64 percent from the field on their way to defeating the Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team, 104-82, Wednesday night at the H&HP Complex.
                                                                                            
The Lions (6-22, 3-14 Southland) were led by Brandon Gonzalez who scored a career-high 23 points. The junior finished 8-for-19 from the field to best his previous career-high of 21 he set Saturday against Abilene Christian. Gonzalez, out of Punta Gorda, Florida, also added seven rebounds. Pape Diop added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Lions while Ty Brewer chipped in with 13 points.
 
The Cowboys (13-15, 8-9 Southland) got 21 points each from Sha'Markus Kennedy, Roydell Brown and Dru Kuxhausen. Kennedy, a senior, finished 9-for-10 from the field with 13 rebounds. Brown knocked down four three-pointers while Kuxhausen was 7-for-14 from the three-point line.
 
Early on, the Lions kept pace with the game tied at 14-14 with 13:44 left in the first half. However, the Cowboys caught fire as they went on a 35-14 run taking a 49-28 lead at halftime.
 
The Cowboys, who snapped a six-game losing streak Wednesday, led by as much as 32 late in the game, 86-54. McNeese finished the game 38-for-59 from the field (64 percent) while the Lions were 27-for-62 (43 percent).
 
Southeastern had a solid night at the free-throw line shooting 20-for-27 (74 percent) and also scored 26 points off of 18 McNeese turnovers. But the Lions couldn't contain the red-hot shooting of the Cowboys who also finished with 50 points in the paint.
 
The Cowboys swept the season series against the Lions after defeating SLU, 77-61, Jan. 22 in Hammond, Louisiana.
 
Next up, the Lions will return home to take on Northwestern State (12-14, 9-8 Southland) Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. The Demons lost Wednesday night to Stephen F. Austin, 90-59, on the road.
 
HARDWOOD CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the basketball program are encouraged to join the Hardwood Club.  Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letterwinners.  All membership fees and donations to Hardwood Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern basketball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
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