MCNEESE VS ILLINOIS STATE

PHOTO BY: @billkiser / @vidaily.news

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas – Javohn Garcia poured in a game-high 16 points, while Brandon Murray came off the bench to score 13 points and Sincere Parker added 13 of his own, leading the way for the McNeese Cowboys (3-2) in a 76-68 win over Illinois State (3-2) on Saturday on the opening day of the Paradise Jam.

The win is the second-ever win for McNeese over Illinois State, and the first since January 22, 1981, when McNeese downed ISU 61-59 in overtime in Lake Charles, La.

With the win, McNeese advances to face Longwood on Sunday at 6:30 p.m., while Illinois State will face UAB at 4 p.m. Saturday.

The opening ten minutes of the contest were back-and-forth, with three ties and 10 lead changes, but after a 3-pointer by DJ Richards with 8:53 remaining in the opening half, the Cowboys never trailed again, extending their lead to as many as 15 points (43-28) in the closing minutes of the first half.

Illinois State staged a rally late in the half, cutting its deficit to seven (43-36) at the half and twice pulling to within five in the opening minutes of the second, but the Cowboys again pushed the lead into double figures and were able to hold the Redbirds off down the stretch.

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