For those who questioned Javohn Garcia’s credentials as Player of the Year, he had an answer Tuesday night.

After helping McNeese to a big lead early, Garcia saw Northwestern State whittle it down during the second half of the Southland Conference semifinal game.

Garcia, however, responded, and the Cowboys are back in the title match.

Garcia scored 24 to lead McNeese over the Demons, 83-64, in front of a rowdy crowd of 3,567 inside the Legacy Center Tuesday night. 

Like he has all year, the 6-foot-3 senior guard played his best when it mattered most. Because of that, McNeese will try to defend its SLC Tournament championship for the first time in program history. A win will also earn the Cowboys their second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Garcia scored seven points, dished out three assists, and picked off two steals over the final eight minutes as McNeese finished the game on a 21-7 run.

“He looked like the player of the year, like he has all season,” McNeese head coach Will Wade said. “He has consistently made the big plays when we needed them.”

McNeese (26-6) will play for the title Wednesday at 4 p.m. against No. 2 Lamar, which beat Nicholls 58-55 in the second semi.

The Cowboys swept the season series against Lamar, but a post-game flare-up—the third of the day—marred the second game just 11 days ago. 

“It got a little chippy, a little emotional,” Lamar head coach Alvin Brooks said. “It will be a very spirited, competitive game.”

The Cowboys have won 10 straight games and have a 29-1 record at home the last two seasons. They have not lost in 22 games in the Legacy Center against Southland opponents.

Garcia got help from Christian Shumate down the stretch after the fourth-seeded Demons (16-16) closed to 62-57 with 8:59 remaining. Garcia hit a jumper to start and finish a 9-2 run over the next 3:22, which gave McNeese a 71-59 working lead from which the Demons never recovered.

Shumate scored seven of his 11 points in the final eight minutes, making 5 of 6 free throws.

“Those were big shots from Christian,” said Wade. “He and coach (Vernon) Hamilton have worked hard the last week on his free throws.”

The final nail in their coffin came on Brandon Murray’s 3-pointer from the right corner with 1:54 left, which put the Cowboys up 78-64. The countdown to the final had begun.

“They (McNeese) are the best team in the league; they have proven that all year,” said Northwestern State head coach Rick Cabrera. “They are big-shot makers, and they make big shots.”

Cabrera, whose team lost three times to the Cowboys by an average of 19 points, is not a fan of playing championship tournaments in home gyms.

“I don’t like that we played a road game,” Cabrera said. 

For the record, McNeese won by 23 when the game was played at the Demons’ home, the worst of all the beatings.

“We won by 19, but it doesn’t feel like it,” said Wade. “Give them credit; they came out and played hard to start the second half.

McNeese jumped out to a 24-7 lead on Sincere Parker’s second 3-pointer eight minutes into the game. 

“We wanted to throw the first punch again,” said Garcia. “I want to give a shout-out to our fans; they got us going.”

McNeese held a 42-25 halftime lead, 

but the Demons scored 27 in the first eight minutes of the second half to cut the lead. They chipped away until they got it to five before Garcia took over.

“I just think we got more aggressive there,” said Garcia. “We all got one goal: to win this championship and get to the NCAA and win some games.”

DJ Richards hit 4 of 5 from behind the arm to finish with 14 points for the Cowboys. Micah Thomas had 19 to lead the Demons. 

For fun, Garcia hit a final three with 28 seconds left to send the Demons home.