Cowboys Season Ends With Loss To Boston College
No one expected the Cowboys to even win the Southland Conference, but they did way more than that this season before it came to an end Last night at the Burton Coliseum in front of a huge crowd.
McNeese State's basketball season came to an end here Tuesday night with a 82-64 NIT first round loss to Boston College.
The Cowboys ended the season with a 21-12 overall record, a Southland Conference title and appearance in the NIT. Boston College, the first ACC school to play in Burton Coliseum, improved to 21-12 and will move on to the second round.
The Cowboys had three players score in double figures with Patrick Richard tying for a game high 22 points. Boston Colleges Reggie Jackson also scored 22 points. Other Cowboys scoring in double figures were seniors Diego Kapelan and Stephan Martin. Kapelan scored 12 points, all coming from three-point range. Martin pitched in 10. Senior P. J. Alawoya led all players with a game high 12 rebounds. He just missed a double double with nine points.
McNeese trailed 41-19 at the half on behalf of the sharp shooting from three-point range by the Eagles. Boston College connected on 6 of 11 treys while the Cowboys were 2 of 8 from three-point range. The Eagles shot 56.7 percent from the field, making 17 of 30 shots from the field.
Boston College scored the opening basket of the game but an old-fashion three-point play by Patrick Richard gave the Cowboys a 3-2 lead, its first and only of the game with 19:04 to go in the half. A layup by Joe Trapani gave the Eagles a 7-3 lead then a 11-4 run increased the lead to 18-7 with 11:48 left. The Eagles extended their lead to 20 points twice in the final four minutes of the half.
"This was a great enviroment," said Boston College head coach Steve Donahue. "The NIT should be proud. It's a challenge to play in front of a good crowd with a lot of energy."
The attendance at the game was 5,035, the third largest crowd to watch the Cowboys in Burton Coliseum.
"I'm very proud of our my guys," said McNeese head coach Dave Simmons. "We were able to fight back to a 12 point deficit but we didn't have enough gas in the tank. We had a great year and seniors laid a foundation. We have a lot to build on and lot to be proud of. This senior group has shown class on and off the court.
"Give Boston College due credit. They are a well skilled basketball team. Make no mistake, they are a very good team and we wish them luck in the remainder of the NIT.
"Tonight we had a great crowd rooting behind us."
The Cowboys connected on but 10 of 26 three point shots, making but two of eight in the first half. Kapelan didn't have one of his better games as he was four of 10 from three point range, zero of three in the first half.
McNeese was also outrebounded, Boston College holding a 42-27 advantage there.
The Cowboys may have not advanced and there season is now over, but we are proud of the Cowboys and what they did accomplish this season. We are looking forward to next season with the pokes. Congrats Cowboys for a terrific year!!!
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