LAKE CHARLES, La. – Despite an 11-point lead in the first half, the East Texas A&M University men's basketball team suffered a 67-51 loss to the first-place McNeese Cowboys on Monday night at the Legacy Center.
 
By appearing in Monday's game and playing 18 minutes, senior guard Khaliq Abdul-Mateen (Cy-Lakes) tied the program record of most career games played, tying Larry McGhee with 125.
 
McNeese pulled ahead 8-3, but then the Lions tied the game at 11, and took their first lead of the game at the 9:35 mark on a three-pointer from Scooter Williams Jr. (Chattanooga, Tenn.). East Texas A&M went on a 11-0 run to take a 24-13 lead with 5:57 to play, but McNeese scored the next nine to make it a two-point game.
 
The Lions hit seven three-pointers in the first half and led 27-22. The Cowboys shot 8 for 28 in the first half, going 3 for 10 from deep.
 
At the 19:15 mark of the second half, the Lions led 29-24, but the Cowboys used a 11-0 run to lead 35-29 and held the Lions to just nine points through the next 13 minutes. McNeese scored 28 points during that stretch.
 
The Cowboys have now won five straight meetings over the Lions and are 18-6 overall and 13-1 in Southland Conference play this season. The Lions fall to 3-22 overall and 1-13 in conference play.
 
Williams Jr. was the leading scorer for the Lions with 16 points, while KC Ugwuakazi (Boston, Mass.) scored 10 along with six rebounds and blocked two shots as well. The Lions shot 29.2 percent from the field and 4 for 14 from outside in the second half.
 
Three starters for the Cowboys scored in double digits, with Christian Shumate totaling 19 points and 14 rebounds. The Cowboys went 6 for 10 from deep and shot 60 percent from the field in the second half. McNeese outscored East Texas A&M, 45-24, in the second half.
 

POST GAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
The Lions play at home on Saturday against Lamar at 2:15 p.m. East Texas A&M will celebrate the 1955 Men's Basketball National Championship during the game.