McNeese Cowboys basketball

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McNeese Cowboys basketball
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 McNeese Cowboys basketball team
McNeese Athletics logo.svg
UniversityMcNeese State University
Head coach Bill Armstrong (1st season)
Conference Southland
Location Lake Charles, Louisiana
Arena The Legacy Center
(capacity: 4,200)
NicknameCowboys
ColorsRoyal blue and gold [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away


NCAA tournament round of 32
1968*, 2025
NCAA tournament appearances
1968*, 1989, 2002, 2024, 2025
Conference tournament champions
1989, 2002, 2024, 2025
Conference regular-season champions
1975, 1978, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2011, 2024, 2025

* at Division II level

The McNeese Cowboys basketball team represents McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference.

Contents

They are led by head coach Bill Armstrong and play their home games at The Legacy Center. Currently members of the NCAA Division I, they were national champions of the NAIA in 1956. Since joining Division I in 1972-73, the Cowboys have appeared four times in the NCAA Tournament, most recently in 2025. McNeese won against Clemson in 2025 for their first NCAA tournament win in program history.

Postseason appearances

Shamarkus Kennedy Shamarkus Kennedy (cropped).jpg
Shamarkus Kennedy

NCAA Division I Tournament

The Cowboys have appeared in four NCAA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 1–4.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1989 16First round (1) Illinois L 71–77
2002 14First round (3) Mississippi State L 58–70
2024 12First round (5) Gonzaga L 65–86
2025 12First round
Second round
(5) Clemson
(4) Purdue
W 69–67
L 62–76

NCAA Division II Tournament

The Cowboys have appeared in one NCAA Division II Tournament. Their record is 0–2.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1968 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game
Trinity (TX)
Jackson State
L 78–95
L 71–75

NAIA Tournament

The Cowboys have appeared in one NAIA Tournament. Their record is 5–0. They were national champions in 1956, their only appearance in the tournament.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1956 First round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game
Georgetown (KY)
Central State (OH)
Tennessee State
Pittsburg State
Texas Southern
W 88–65
W 87–74
W 76–68
W 78–72
W 60–55

NIT

The Cowboys have appeared in three National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 1–3.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1986 First round
Second Round
Dayton
Louisiana Tech
W 86–75
L 61–77
2001 First roundUTEPL 74–84
2011 First roundBoston CollegeL 64–82

CIT

The Cowboys have appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). Their record is 0–1.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2012 First roundToledoL 63–76

Players

Retired numbers

McNeese State Cowboys retired numbers
No.PlayerYears
4 Joe Dumars 1981–1985
25 Stan Kernan 1957–1961
33 Bill Reigel 1954–1956
34 Frank Glenn 1955–1958

Cowboys in the NBA

Six former Cowboys have appeared in the National Basketball Association.

See also

References

  1. "McNeese State Athletics Style Guide" (PDF). January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.