Jeremie Mitchell scored 20 points and Patrick Richard had 19 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to lead McNeese State past Central Arkansas 87-76 Sunday.
Richard scored 15 of his points in the second half, when the Cowboys (9-10, 5-2 Southland Conference) shot 56 percent (14 of 25) from the field.
Two 3-pointers by Mitchell started a 13-0 run at the end of the first half that gave McNeese State a 40-33 lead at the break. The Cowboys began the second half with a 16-3 run to make it 56-33 and never led by fewer than six after that.
Jarvis Garner scored 22 points, 18 in the second half, to pace the Bears (7-12, 2-5), and LaQuentin Miles scored 16.
The game was played at the Lake Charles Civic Center to allow the Cowboys' usual home, the Burton Coliseum on campus, to be set up for a rodeo this week.
