Like the flip of a switch, McNeese State’s performance against Lamar on Saturday went from the worst of the year to the first in which the Cowboys could put their walk-on on the floor.

McNeese scored 51 points in the second half for a surprisingly comfortable 74-50 win over the Cardinals. The turnaround was fueled by the Cowboys’ 18-0 advantage in points off turnovers in the second half.

“At halftime, we kept talking positive,” said McNeese coach Dave Simmons. “We didn’t talk about what we didn’t do. We talked about ‘We’re going to play better in the second half.’ You saw a different look in those guys in the second half.”

McNeese (8-8, 2-4 Southland) was able to clear the bench by the end, giving Bell City walk-on Josh Jagneaux his first minutes of the season.

At halftime it seemed more likely that Lamar coach Pat Knight would be the one putting in his entire roster. The Cardinals finished the half on a 9-of-12 tear from the field — many of those shots uncontested — to take a 31-23 lead into the locker room.

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For more on this game, pick up a copy of Sunday’s American Press.

(Rick Hickman / American Press)