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.
They are led by head coach Bill Armstrong and play their home games at Townsley Law Arena. 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 five times in the NCAA Tournament, most recently in 2026. McNeese won against Clemson in 2025 for their first NCAA tournament win in program history.
Postseason appearances
NCAA Division I Tournament The Cowboys have appeared in five NCAA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 1–5.
1989 16 First round (1) Illinois L 71–77 2002 14 First round (3) Mississippi State L 58–70 2024 12 First round (5) Gonzaga L 65–86 2025 12 First roundSecond round (5) Clemson(4) Purdue W 69–67L 62–76 2026 12 First round (5) Vanderbilt L 68–78
NCAA Division II Tournament The Cowboys have appeared in one NCAA Division II Tournament. Their record is 0–2.
1968 Regional semifinalsRegional 3rd-place game Trinity (TX)Jackson State L 78–95L 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.
1956 First roundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship Game Georgetown (KY)Central State (OH)Tennessee StatePittsburg StateTexas Southern W 88–65W 87–74W 76–68W 78–72W 60–55
NIT The Cowboys have appeared in three National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 1–3.
1986 First roundSecond Round DaytonLouisiana Tech W 86–75L 61–77 2001 First round UTEP L 74–84 2011 First round Boston College L 64–82
CIT The Cowboys have appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). Their record is 0–1.
2012 First round Toledo L 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. Tierre Brown, 2002-2005 Joe Dumars, 1986-1999 Trey Gilder, 2010 Edmund Lawrence, 1981 Anthony Pullard, 1993 John Rudd, 1979
See also List of NCAA Division I men's basketball programs
References
External links