LAKE CHARLES, La. — Javohn Garcia scored a career-high 31 points and made five 3-pointers, and No. 2 seed McNeese beat top-seeded Stephen F. Austin 76-59 on Wednesday to claim the Southland tournament championship and a bid to the NCAA tournament.
McNeese (28-5) became the first team in 10 years to reach and win three straight Southland tournament title games since Stephen F. Austin did so from 2013 to 2016.
Garcia finished 11-of-18 from the floor and grabbed five rebounds in 33 minutes — a day after playing 48 minutes in a triple-overtime win over UT Rio Grande Valley. Larry Johnson added 18 points and Tyshawn Archie had 17.
McNeese did not trail, jumping to a 29-20 lead behind five 3-pointers from Garcia. The Cowboys went into the break ahead 42-25.
Keon Thompson, the conference player of the year, led the Lumberjacks (28-5) with 18 points, while Kam Burton added 10. Stephen F. Austin shot 37% from the floor and 24% from behind the arc.
The Cowboys return to the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in program history.
