The Cowboys are still evolving.

At 5-4 and with two games left before opening defense of their Southland Conference championship, McNeese State is trying to find itself.

A tough schedule and key injuries have slowed the process, but with No. 25 Mississippi State next up Saturday, time is getting short.

After taking on the Bulldogs in Tupelo, MS., the Cowboys travel to Louisiana-Lafayette for their final pre-conference game on Dec. 22. Then they open league play on Dec. 28.

“We have to figure things out pretty quick,” McNeese head coach Will Wade said. “The league has improved, and we have to be ready. It’s different being chased than doing the chasing.”

The Cowboys won’t sneak up on anybody this season. 

With Alyn Breed out for the near future with an injury, McNeese is looking to find the right pieces to complete its puzzle, especially at crunch time. It has struggled of late, losing two of its last three.

“We have not been good in the final six minutes of games,” Wade said. “We take pride in winning those.”

Wade said Wednesday during his weekly press conference that he doesn’t think one guy will take over games at the end like Shahada Wells did last season when they went 30-4. Instead, it will be whoever is hot that night.

“I think we have to find that guy for that game,” Wade said. “For us this year, it could be a different guy each night.”

Two guys who have stepped up their games of late are transfers Quadir Copeland and Bryant Selebangue. 

Copeland, who came over from Syracuse, started slowly, finding his role early for the Cowboys. He has picked things up of late, finishing just one rebound shy of a triple-double in last week’s 103-69 victory over LeTourneau. 

Copeland finished with 20 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, showing his capabilities. He made seven of his eight shots from the floor and all six free throws. 

“I’m getting more comfortable,” said Copeland. “We are still not close to being as good as we are going to be, but we are getting better.”

Copeland’s minutes should go up with the injury to Breed, who has played just two games but leads the Cowboys at 17.5 points a game. 

Copeland could fill the gap at point guard, and Selebangue will play a bigger role in McNeese’s future.

That’s bigger, as in under the boards. The junior forward/center from Arizona State scored 14 points on 7 of 8 shooting against LeTourneau. However, the little things have Selebangue’s minutes going up.

“He does the things others don’t want to do,” said Wade. “He sets picks and rolls to the basket. We need that.

“I think he will be extremely effective in the Southland. “That’s why we signed him.”

Shooting has also been an issue, especially from long range in the early going. Wade thinks a lot of that is due to the schedule. McNeese has played against some of the better defensive teams in the nation. 

Their schedule to date would combine to average out as playing the 21st-ranked defenses. 

“We are not a bad shooting team; the trick is getting uncontested shots,” Wade said. “I think the schedule has been a part of the reason for the numbers.’
The Cowboys made just 28 percent of their 3-point tries before making 10 of 21 against LaTourneau. 

“I do think we are making progress,” Wade said. “We are getting more emotionally stable. Now, we have to apply the lessons we have learned.”