BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY | HIGHLIGHTS | REPLAY | BRACKET | TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
KATY, Texas – Northwestern State tied a Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament record with 14 3-pointers as the fourth-seed Demons held off the Cowboys 96-89 Thursday evening at Merrell Center, advancing them to a semifinal date against top-seed Stephen F. Austin on Friday.
Sophomore guard Zeek Woodley was the biggest storm cloud that sent McNeese State (15-16) home, as he scored a career-high 34 points, including three treys to go along with nine rebounds. Woodley will enter Friday’s game two points shy of breaking the school’s single-season record of 686 points that Billy Reynolds has held since 1976.
“We didn’t have an answer for him all night,” said McNeese State coach Dave Simmons.
“I felt like that we ran and pushed the ball up the floor and allowed them to play free, catch the ball and make shots,” said Demons coach Mike McConathy. “When I coach relaxed and they play relaxed, that’s a pretty good combination, I think.”
Northwestern State shot 56 percent from the field, but were even more efficient in the second half, when the Demons hit 64.5 percent of their attempts, including nine of 15 from 3-point range. Leading 41-34 at the half, Northwestern State gradually put distance between themselves and fifth-seed McNeese State, as the nation’s highest-scoring team took as much as a 21-point lead with 5:50 left.
“I think my teammates did a good job of making shots and getting to open spots,” said Northwestern State’s all-conference first-team guard Jalan West, who recorded his 10th-career double-double with 24 points and 12 assists.
The Demons – winners of 11 of their last 13 -- had a 3:19 stretch in the second half in which they finished five of their six possessions with 3-pointers, capped off Ta’Jon Welcome’s triple that gave them a 77-63 margin.
“I felt like that because we were getting the ball up and down the floor, we were relaxed and played relaxed,” said McConathy.
Northwestern State’s relaxation lost its guard in the final minutes, as McNeese State refused to yield quietly. The Cowboys were able to whittle the lead down on the strength of their offensive rebounding, with first-team all-conference forward Desharick Guidry scoring nine of his 20 points on a host of put-backs. McNeese State pulled down 28 of their 51 rebounds on the offensive end.
“That came late when we cut the margin down,” said Simmons of the Cowboys’ offensive rebounding. “We needed that kind of production earlier in the game.”
Guidry also added 15 rebounds in his final game with McNeese State, while all-conference third-team guard Kevin Hardy had 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists in his final appearance in a Cowboys uniform. Keelan Garrett had 20 points, including six of McNeese State’s eight 3-pointers.
Welcome had 14 points, including four 3-pointers for Northwestern State, while Sabri Thompson added 12 points in place of Tra’von Joseph, who sustained a knee injury in the first half and is doubtful for Friday’s game.
The Demons lost both regular season matchups against the Lumberjacks, suffering a 93-82 home setback on February 9 before falling 92-66 on the road on March 5.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Northwestern State
Head Coach Mike McConathy
Opening statement…
“I’m really proud of the guys because they really came out and competed. Outside of certain things I thought we really competed in two of the three things we needed to, we did a really good job. We did a great job on the boards up until the last five minutes of the second half. Twenty-eight offensive rebounds is unbelievable. It was go effort. I felt like we ran and pushed the ball up the floor and it allowed them to play free. I felt like we really did a nice job up until the last 3-4 minutes of the game.”
On Northwestern State’s outside shooting…
“I think when we play relaxed and we planned to shoot the basketball well. I felt like because we were getting the ball up and down the floor we were relaxed and played relaxed. When I coach relaxed and the play relaxed, that’s a pretty good combination we think. They did a great job in the zone and it created some problems, but finally we were able to get the ball and get it into the right hands.”
Junior Guard Jalan West
On the team’s offense…
“I think my teammates did a great job of taking shots and getting to open spots and making me look good. I just tried to get them the ball and I just encourage them to make shots and take shots. If they don’t take it, then they’re not going to make it. Tonight I think we did a great job of taking and making shots.”
Sophomore Guard Zeek Woodley
On his hot shooting…
“Coach just told us to come in and play and Jalan always tells me to shoot, even when I’m missing so that what I did. I just shot the ball.”
McNeese State
Head Coach Dave Simmons
Opening statement…
“I thought it was a great game. We’ve come back, had an overtime game last night and it was a tough basketball game knowing that we didn’t want to get caught up in the pace that they like to play. But I thought, obviously, we played [Northwestern State’s pace] and you can see the score 96-89.”
On having Guidry and Hardy the last four years…
“I’m going to be looking for them next year. It’s been a pleasure to coach these young men. They’re both leaders. They’re good teammates. I think for the most part, they established something that I hope the young group can follow in their footsteps.”
Senior Forward Desharick Guidry
On his play…
“I felt like I was frustrated, just couldn’t hit a shot, but I just had to shake it off and come back in the second half and just play harder and rebound the ball.”
On his career…
“It’s been a lot of good memories. Met a lot of people. Had a great time. Me and Kevin [Hardy], it was good to play with my childhood friend. Good coaches, surrounded by good people. It’s great playing in front of your hometown every night."
Senior Guard Kevin Hardy
On McNeese fighting until the end…
“Coming out of each timeout coach kept telling us it’s not over, it’s not over and we believed him. We fought, we knew that we didn’t want to put our heads down and look at the lead and take ourselves out of the game. We just fought hard and tried to play to the very last second."
On his career…
“It’s been an honor to play for McNeese these last four years. We’ve had a lot of memories with me and Desharick and it’s just been an honor and a blessing to wear that “M” on my chest."