McNeese State was not the least bit fazed by a Stephen F. Austin team that entered Burton Coliseum on Saturday with 20 consecutive wins over Southland Conference opponents.

But the deadly efficient Lumberjacks were still able to make McNeese victim No. 21, draining four free throws in the final 19 seconds to escape Lake Charles with an 80-75 win over the Cowboys.

“They’re a very, very good basketball team,” said McNeese coach Dave Simmons. “They had a great run last year and have kids who know how to win. The big key in the game is we had to match their physical play. It was back and forth like a championship match.”

All hands on deck contributed to McNeese’s effort, with guard Keelan Garrett delivering a career- and game-high 26 points and Shaun Johnson coming off the bench and drilling four 3-pointers in a 12-point effort.

“We know our starters can score,” Johnson said. “If the bench is providing, the sky is the limit on where we’re going.”

Johnson’s final 3 tied the score at 73 with 59 seconds remaining.

But the battle-tested Lumberjacks (11-3, 1-0 Southland), who beat Virginia Commonwealth in the first round of last year’s NCAA tournament, turned around and responded with a clutch Ty Charles trey to retake the lead with 39 seconds to go.

The Cowboys (6-6, 0-1) played the percentages, getting a quick bucket from Kevin Hardy before putting SFA on the free-throw line.

Trey Pinkney hit both ends of a 1-and-1 to put the Jacks ahead by 3.

Hardy drove the lane with under 15 seconds remaining as three SFA defenders collapsed on him — the others were glued to Johnson and Garrett — forcing an ugly shot that bounced off the backboard.

The hope was to draw a foul, but the contact from the Lumberjacks defense wasn’t forceful enough to get a whistle.

“The lane was going to be open, so we were trying to get two quick points and maybe a foul,” Hardy said. “There’s always going to be contact. I’ve got to finish the layup.”

“Normally when you take it to the basket at home, you’re looking for that call,” Simmons said.

Charles hit two free throws with 8.1 seconds left to provide the final margin.

Free throws were a sore spot for the Cowboys, who were 12 of 22 (54.5 percent) from the line. Simmons said fatigue seemed to be a factor on many misses.

“It was a very physical basketball game, which is probably why we ended up shooting that (poorly) at the line,” Simmons said. “But championship teams knock those down.”

Hardy and Garrett both played 40 minutes, while Desharick Guidry didn’t get much of a breather with 39.

SFA made shutting down Guidry its top priority, limiting him to a point in the first half. He managed a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. Hardy chipped in 11 points.

The Lumberjacks demonstrated their offensive efficiency throughout the game. Four players scored in double digits, led by Charles and Demetrious Floyd with 13 apiece, while three others scored eight points.

SFA had 20 assists and six turnovers.

Both teams shot exactly 50 percent from the field.

The Lumberjacks are on a 10-game winning streak dating to a Nov. 24 loss at Baylor.

(Rick Hickman/American Press)

Rick Hickman