Patrick Richard scored 21 points and C.J. Collins added 20 on 9-of-10 shooting from the field as McNeese State defeated Sam Houston State 73-63 on Monday night.
The Cowboys (15-8, 7-3 Southland Conference) took sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division of the league and won for the first time in the last five meetings with Sam Houston State (13-11, 6-5).
Collins, who went scoreless in Saturday's victory over Central Arkansas, was one of three double-figure scorers for the Cowboys. Diego Kapelan added 13 points as the Cowboys ran their perfect home record to 12-0.
Nafis Richardson led the Bearkats with 18 points, while Gilberto Clavell tossed in 12 before fouling out and Lance Pevehouse had 10.
McNeese State shot 57.1 percent for the game (28 of 49) and the Bearkats couldn't keep up at 39 percent (23 of 59).
