McNeese Routs UAB 99-78 in Opening Day Marathon
Larry Johnson scored a career-high 31 points as McNeese extended its regular season winning streak to nine games.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
McNeese defeated UAB 99-78 in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The Cowboys shot 55% from the field and made 12 of 27 three-point attempts while forcing 14 UAB turnovers.
Why it matters
The win extends McNeese's regular season winning streak to nine straight games and shows its offense can produce in a high-profile early-season tournament. The result also reflects a 12-0 run that gave McNeese control before halftime.
Johnson's 31 points were a career high, and Jaylon Dean-Vines added a career-best 17 as McNeese made 12 of 27 three-pointers and forced 14 UAB turnovers. The source does not indicate how these individual performances compare to season averages.
The players
Larry Johnson
Johnson scored a career-high 31 points, including 20 in the first half, to lead McNeese's offense in the win over UAB.
Bill Armstrong
Armstrong is McNeese's head coach and holds a 29-6 career record, a mark that frames the program's recent success.
The details
Johnson scored 20 points in the first half and nine straight during an early McNeese run, while Choppa Moore added 15 and Alier Maluk, Jerrell Colbert and Christian Nitu each scored eight. McNeese opened with a 12-0 run to take an 18-15 lead with 9:12 left in the first half, then made 12 of 18 shots in the final 10 minutes of that half to lead 44-35 at intermission.
Timeline
Monday: McNeese defeated UAB 99-78 in Rock Hill, S.C.
Thursday, 4 p.m.: McNeese visits North Texas, broadcast on ESPN+.
Next Monday, 6:30 p.m.: McNeese's regular season home debut against College of Biblical Studies.
Season Trajectory
The win extends McNeese's run to nine straight regular season victories and keeps the Cowboys positioned as a team with early-season momentum. It also sets up a home debut against College of Biblical Studies next week.
Fantasy managers tracking McNeese scorers should note Johnson's 31-point outing and Dean-Vines' 17 points as the team's current offensive leaders. Fans can watch the Thursday North Texas game on ESPN+.
The takeaway
McNeese's ball movement and defensive pressure, which produced 14 UAB turnovers and an 18-point swing, are the tools to watch as the nine-game streak continues.
What happens next
McNeese visits North Texas on Thursday at 4 p.m. and hosts College of Biblical Studies at 6:30 p.m. next Monday.
Further reading
Follow more Lake Charles basketball coverage for local context on McNeese's season.
