One McNeese State team is looking to keep a good streak going, while the other is looking to end a bad one.

Today’s basketball doubleheader at Sam Houston State is important for both the Cowboys and the Cowgirls, but for much different reasons.

For the Cowgirls (12-9, 7-3 Southland) it is a chance to sweep the season series against the only team still ahead of them in the conference standings. The Bearkats’ (12-9, 8-1) lone loss in Southland play came in Lake Charles, 62-58, on Jan. 12.

McNeese has won four straight to bring itself back into the hunt for the regular-season crown after an up-and-down start. The Cowgirls bench has outscored its opponents 92-45 during the winning streak.

The Cowboys (8-12, 2-8) have had the opposite run of luck over the last two weeks, losing four in a row. Now they have to figure out a way to knock off a team that already beat them by 15 on their home floor.

McNeese trailed by one with 10 minutes to go in that 72-57 loss before missing its last 13 field goal attempts.

“We’ve added a couple more sets to try to help us,” said Cowboys head coach Dave Simmons. “We’ve been working on rebounding, transition and free throws. I think some of those areas have improved and the confidence level has improved.”

The Bearkats (12-9, 5-4) rely on defense and scoring from all angles with no one on the team averaging double figures.

(MGNonline)