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McNeese athletics have jumped head first into fundraising for their sports teams in the past few years. The university’s executive team advocates strongly to sell the McNeese brand and elevate their athletic and academic profiles. This starts with selling McNeese to Lake Charles.

Getting the community involved and invested in McNeese has been essential to the university’s growth and success. On Oct. 22, McNeese athletics held their annual Tip-off Banquet, introducing the men’s and women’s basketball teams and holding an auction to raise money.

The event was held in the Townsley Law Arena’s main basketball gym, where tables were draped with McNeese blue and gold. Decorated with custom wine glasses and supplied with bottles of wine, the tables ensured that all guests had a fun time.

The night started with food and mingling. A buffet-style meal was served, and there were open drink stands on either side of the arena. Heath Schroyer, McNeese’s athletic director, introduced head coaches Bill Armstrong and Ayla Guzzardo, who gave brief speeches about the upcoming season.

After the introductions, the open auction began. Auction items included anything from tickets to the New Orleans Pelicans and Golden State Warriors game to a trip to the Bahamas with the Cowgirls.

About 550 guests attended the event, not including teams and staff. McNeese investors were eager to bid on items to give back. A dinner at local restaurant, Mazen’s, with Armstrong and Guzzardo sold to Lee Mallett for around $40,000, one of the highest bids of the night.

Overall, about $250,000 was raised. Other attendees included Ryan Navarre, Walt Sanchez and Jay Kumar, who were all generous in contributing to the auction’s success. All funds raised go directly back into the women’s and men’s basketball budgets.

McNeese athletics is very thankful for their investors and the community as a whole. Armstrong and Guzzardo are excited for the upcoming seasons and hope to make Lake Charles proud.

Both teams open the season with a double-header on Nov. 3, in The Townsley Law Arena.

On Friday, Nov. 7, the Cowboys played the Santa Clara Broncos in California at The Leavey Center. McNeese fought hard against Santa Clara but ultimately could not come out on top. The Broncos defeated the Cowboys 79-67 in a hard fought battle on the West Coast.

In the first half of the game, McNeese came out strong. DJ Richards scored the first points of the game with a tough 3-point shot. Defensively, the Cowboys were active and aggressive early.

Head coach Bill Armstrong believes in that in-your-face defense, and it was working well. The Broncos were unable to get an uncontested shot off for a majority of the first half.

The Cowboys held their lead until the last few minutes of the first half, when the Broncos hit a few hard threes. The first half ended 37-33, the Cowboys only down 4 points.

In the second half, the Broncos came out on fire. Difficult shots were falling for Santa Clara, and McNeese couldn’t get a rhythm going offensively. The game was physical and a lot of fouls were called, sending the Broncos to the free-throw line where they shot 15 of 25. McNeese wasn’t far behind on foul count, scoring 17 of 23 free-throws.

The leading scorer for the Cowboys was Larry Johnson, with 18 points. Johnson went 10 for 10 from the free-throw line, making it his second game in a row to shoot 100-percent.

Jacolb Fredson-Cole led the team in assists and rebounds, with four assists and nine rebounds. Javohn Garcia had the most steals, swiping three out of the team's 11 total steals.

McNeese scored 14 points off turnovers, 38 points in the paint, 17 second chance points and 20 points off fast breaks. The Cowboy bench combined for 35 points. The team shot 73.9-percent in free-throws, 45.1-percent from the field and 25-percent from the three point line.

The Cowboys had the lead for almost 12 minutes of the game; their biggest lead being six points.

This performance from McNeese was admittedly not their best. The matchup was tough, and the Cowboys weren’t able to pull through with the win. They made some mistakes that ultimately cost them the game, one of those being 14 turnovers. Santa Clara was able to capitalize on turnovers, scoring 20 points.

Santa Clara completed the sweep of McNeese by defeating the Cowboys for the second consecutive season. The Broncos’ head coach Herb Sendek is one of the most successful coaches in school history. In nine years, Sendek has led the team to eight winning records and is also the eighth coach in program history to reach 100 wins.

The Cowboys gave the Broncos a run for their money for the majority of the game Friday, but they fell behind in the end. Head coach Bill Armstrong said that they have a lot to polish up on before Monday’s game against College of Biblical Studies.

The McNeese State women’s basketball team travelled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama last week to play the Crimson Tide. Alabama ultimately came out on top, with a 64-44 win over the Cowgirls.

McNeese fought hard in the game and managed to keep the lead for over 17 minutes, ending the first half up 29-25. Unfortunately, in the second half, Alabama was able to come back, outscoring the Cowgirls 39-15.

The leading scorer for McNeese was Tyreona Sibley, with 12 points off the bench. Sibley was one of four players to lead in rebounds, with four total. Dakota Howard, Jalencia Pierre and Allasia Washington also had four rebounds.

Pierre led the team in assists, with four assists. Howard led the team with three out of 14 total steals.

The Cowgirls scored 16 points off turnovers, 34 points in the paint and 11 points off fast breaks. McNeese scored a total of 18 points off the bench. The team went 62.5-percent from the free-throw line, 29.7-percent from the field and 10-percent from the 3-point line.

While this game was tough for McNeese, they held their heads high and competed to the best of their ability. Head coach Ayla Guzzardo said that they fought hard to be physical, but the fouls eventually caught up to them. Guzzardo raved on freshman forward, Dakota Howard, who has exceeded expectations so far this season.

Guzzardo explained that they have some young players on the team that are still working to figure out their role on the court, and this game gave them a taste of how hard they have to work to get better.

Alabama’s head coach, Kristy Curry, gave props to the Cowgirls in a post-game interview.

“Love the grittiness, toughness, and the character down the stretch against a McNeese team that’s so well coached,” she said. “I think they have a chance to win their league without a doubt.”

In the first half of the game, McNeese held their own offensively. Their largest lead was by 10 points. Even though they lost that lead in the second half, the Cowgirls held on tight through most of the fourth quarter. With about seven minutes left in the game, McNeese came within five points of Alabama, but ultimately couldn’t make a comeback.

The Cowgirls look to get back on track on Nov. 16, travelling to Stephenville, Texas, to play the Tarleton State Texans. The Texans will also be coming off a loss to Arkansas State in a 87-77 score in overtime.

Tonight, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m., the Cowboys will face the College of Biblical Studies Ambassadors. After losing to Santa Clara in a disappointing 79-67 defeat, McNeese is back on their home court in the Townsley Law Arena.

In California, the Cowboys struggled against Santa Clara, who have claimed their second consecutive win over McNeese. Mistakes were made that cost the game, and in Sunday’s practice, head coach Bill Armstrong made sure to drill the team to fix what went wrong.

Armstrong said that a big part in their defeat was the lack of rebounding on the offensive end and defensive end. This allowed Santa Clara to capitalize on second chance shots, ultimately giving them the upper hand.

In the upcoming weeks, the Cowboys will face more tough competition, so Armstrong is prepping the team hard.

The College of Biblical Studies is a Division II team in the National Christian College Association. They have played three games already this season, sitting at a 1-2 record.

Last season, the Ambassadors had a 6-17 overall record, going 5-7 in conference play. McNeese was one of their losses, beating the team 111-57.

The Ambassadors also lost to Grambling State last year, who McNeese beat 62-56 in an exhibition game this season.

Based on these statistics, McNeese should earn their second win of the season, but Armstrong said that they are prepping like any other game.

On Friday, Nov. 14, the Cowboys will play at home against the University of Louisiana Lafayette.

Tonight, the Cowboys defeated the College of Biblical Studies Ambassadors in a 132-50 blowout. McNeese stepped up their game and were trying new things tonight in the Townsley Law Arena in front of 2,736 excited fans. The Cowboys put on a much needed show, building their confidence back from a 12-point loss against Santa Clara.

The leading scorer of the game, for the third straight game, was Larry Johnson with 25 points. Johnson, again, shot a perfect 100-percent from the free-throw line and went 10-11 from field goals.

Garvey Dual led the team in assists, with 11 total. Dual, along with Johnson and six other teammates, shot 100-percent from the free-throw line.

Tyshawn Archie led the team with four of the team's 15 total steals and was the third highest scorer of the night. For the second consecutive game, Jacolb Fredson-Cole led the team in rebounds, with two on the offensive end and seven on the defensive end.

McNeese scored 39 points off of 23 turnovers, scored 86 points in the paint, 40 points off fast breaks and 25 second-chance points. The Cowboy bench combined for a total of 69 points.

From the line, the team shot 90.0-percent, only missing two out of 22 total. The Cowboys shot 74.3-percent from field goals and 44.4-percent from the 3-point line.

Tonight’s game marked the first of many must-have wins for McNeese. Head coach Bill Armstrong said that the team had a lot to fix, and this game gave them the outlet to work out those kinks.

Armstrong’s rule for the game was if the team missed a defensive rebound, all five players were being subbed out. He kept to his word, and that motivated the team to grab 49 rebounds total. Armstrong said that in practice over the weekend they spent an hour and a half on rebounding drills because that is what ultimately lost them the game last Friday against Santa Clara.

He and the team aim to continue that mindset of grinding hard throughout the whole game, and Armstrong said that message was being received loud and clear. The Cowboys not only had 34 defensive rebounds, but also had 15 offensive rebounds.

Javohn Garcia also had a good game tonight, scoring 19 points with five rebounds, two steals, and three assists. He agreed with Armstrong that they needed to improve in a lot of areas, specifically rebounding, and he felt like they achieved their goal tonight.

Garcia said that another thing that makes this team special, other than extremely talented players, is their ability to play well together. He said that he loves playing with this team, and he is all in with the rest of his teammates.

“Anything the team needs to win, I’m going to do it,” Garcia said.

On Friday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m., the Cowboys stay home to host the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in the biggest rivalry game of the season. The Townsley Law Arena will be packed and ready to face the Ragin Cajuns head-to-head in the “Battle of I-10.”

The basketball season is starting to amp up for McNeese. On Friday, Nov. 14, the Cowboys play the University of Louisiana Lafayette in the Townsley Law Arena. Sunday, Nov. 16, the Cowgirls travel to Stephenville, Texas, to compete against Tarleton State.

Louisiana-Lafayette will be an entertaining matchup for the Cowboys. In the last two years, McNeese has racked up two wins against the Ragin Cajuns. This game marks one of the biggest rivalry games that fans will see this year.

The Ragin Cajuns compete in the Sun Belt Conference and were ranked No. 11 in their conference last season, with a 12-21 overall record. McNeese, however, were ranked first in the Southland Conference with a 28-7 overall record.

This season, Louisiana-Lafayette has a 1-2 record, their losses being to Ball State 75-64 in their season opener and Tulane 66-62 on Tuesday, Nov. 11. On Friday, Nov. 7, the Ragin Cajuns beat Southeastern Louisiana University 58-52.

McNeese has a 1-1 record, recently losing to Santa Clara in a toughly fought battle on the West Coast. Head coach Bill Armstrong and the team are working hard this week to make sure they are the dominant team on the court and ensure they secure a third straight victory over Louisiana-Lafayette.

In their game Monday against College of Biblical Studies, Armstrong put a couple of new rules to the test. He explained that the team’s lack of rebounding and too many turnovers lost them the Santa Clara game, who went on to beat Xavier, a team projected to do well in their conference. McNeese could’ve had a big win under their belt, but due to their poor second-half performance, the team struggled to shorten the Broncos’ lead.

Armstrong took this loss to heart, and in practice over the weekend he drilled the team nonstop in their insufficient areas. The Cowboys spent over an hour on rebounding drills, Armstrong going so far as to taping up the basket so no shots went in the goal. For Monday’s game, every time the team missed a defensive rebound, all five players were subbed out by a new set.

This strictly enforced regiment allowed the Cowboys to defeat College of Biblical Studies in their second record breaking win of the season. McNeese had an 82-point victory over the Ambassadors with a 132-50 final score, beating their 127-65 win over Champion Christian, making this the highest scoring game in the Townsley Law Arena. The Cowboys also swiped 49 total rebounds off the rim, which is a team high this season.

This weekend, the Cowgirls are travelling to Stephenville, Texas, to play the Tarleton State Texans. This season, the Texans have a record of 2-2, beating Houston Christian and Schreiner. Last season, Tarleton went 10-6 in conference play with a 20-14 overall record.

In the 2023-24 season, the Texans went 11-20, and beat McNeese 88-64. The teams did not compete last season.

With the Cowgirls’ success this season versus Pensacola Christian and a close first half against Alabama, Tarleton should be a good matchup for the team. Head coach Ayla Guzzardo and her team are grinding in practice this week in preparation.

Guzzardo said that for the most part, she is satisfied with the team’s performance against Alabama. The Cowgirls forced 22 turnovers and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds against a high-level SEC team that exceeded them in size overall.

On the flip side, Guzzardo said the team struggled to stay dialed in during the second half. Shots weren’t falling and Alabama’s physicality got the best of the young team. Despite these faults, the Cowgirls and Guzzardo got the experience they needed to better prepare for the season ahead and show people that they are tough, gritty and capable of competing with high-level teams.

Tarleton’s active defense will deny the wings, which Guzzardo said will apply pressure on their guards. She is excited to see how those players respond to that pressure and adapt their offensive style of play.

Defensively, the Cowgirls are going to continue to play their game, disrupting their offense and creating offense through their defense. Guzzardo said it will be a great mid-major battle for two great programs.

McNeese doesn’t play Tarleton until Sunday, Nov. 16, giving them over a week to practice and plan for a battle against the Texans.

One of the best things about college sports is the support teams receive from fans, specifically students. Typically, when a sports season begins, students will fill the stands, cheering on their home team win or lose.

That’s the fan mentality. Students want to be proud of their school, and one way to showcase this pride is showing up and attending games or events.

For the past two years, that is exactly what McNeese basketball has tried to do. The team aims to provide an exciting environment for students to gather, mingle and cheer on Lake Charles’ team.

This week, the McNeese men’s basketball team went around campus to promote Friday’s game to students. Both the team and some staff strongly urge students to come support and want to create excitement for the rest of the season.

On Tuesday, Nov. 11, the Cowboys went door-to-door in student dorms, the cafeteria and the recreation center, asking for support in Friday night’s game against University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

At first, students were hesitant, they were unsure of how to react when they answered the door to a group of six extremely tall basketball players and their coach, unexpectedly. Many students didn’t even answer the door. The team persisted on their mission to promote, despite a handful of “no’s” and a few confused looks.

Eventually, the Cowboys made headway. They handed out flyers with their game schedules, flyers listing the promotional giveaways that will take place on Friday and candy. Once the word began to spread, more students became excited about attending.

On Friday, McNeese will have a raffle for a team-autographed basketball and Apple AirPods, free Canes for the first 100 students, free gold t-shirts and the game is free entry to all students with a student-ID. General admission tickets are $5.

The next day, Wednesday, Nov. 12, Coach Armstrong and a few players rode around campus in golf carts offering students rides to class. This allowed more one-on-one conversations with students, who were more than happy to accept a ride.

Like on Tuesday, Armstrong and the team told students about the upcoming game and handed out flyers. They told students that this is a must see game and that the Townsley Law Arena will be electric.

Overall, the McNeese basketball promo week was a success. The team hopes that by continuing to be accessible to fans, that they can foster a relationship that warrants support. Not only are the games fun for fans, but the team appreciates cheering fans and a loud arena. The fans create an added motivation for the team to perform well, put on a show, and most importantly, win games.

Friday night, at 6 p.m., the Cowboys will tip off against the Ragin Cajuns in an action-packed, competitive game that will leave fans wanting more. This is just the beginning for the team, and they will move forward this season winning for McNeese and for Lake Charles.

After an exciting double-header on Monday, Nov. 3, the Cowboys and Cowgirls are on the move. On Thursday, Nov. 6, the Cowgirls will play the Alabama Crimson Tide, while the Cowboys travel to the west coast to play the Santa Clara Broncos on Friday, Nov. 7.

Monday, in the Townsley Law Arena, the Cowgirls put on a show against Pensacola Christian College, where they demolished the Eagles in a 100-38 victory. The arena was electric with thousands of fifth graders cheering for them. Alabama will be a bigger test for the team, head coach Ayla Guzzardo said.

Last year, Alabama had a 10-6 conference record, ranking them No. 6 in the SEC. The team made it to the NCAA Tournament as a fifth seed, where they lost in the second round to Maryland.

Not only does Alabama have the talent on the floor, they are also bigger and faster than the Cowgirls. The Crimson Tide doesn’t have a player under 5-foot-7 and six out of 15 players are over 6-feet tall. McNeese’s tallest starter, on the other hand, is 5-foot-11, with only two players over 6-feet tall.

It will be a tough fight for the Cowgirls, but Guzzardo and the team are working in practice for the next few days to polish up. In Monday’s game, even though the Cowgirls walked away with 100 points, Guzzardo said that they missed a lot of easy shots, which will be essential in the game against Alabama.

“I know we’ve got bigger fish to fry on Thursday,” Guzzardo added. “We know if we can’t finish those open layups, we might not get a better look than that… We’ve got to be able to finish around the rim.”

At 6:30 p.m. on Monday, the Cowboys also got off to a fast start against Champion Christian College. McNeese broke the record for most points scored in the Townsley Law Arena with 127 points. The 62-point defeat marked the first of many wins expected this season.

Like Guzzardo, Cowboys head coach Bill Armstrong said that his team has some work to do. He explained that as a coach, giving up 65 points is not something he likes doing, and he doesn’t plan on doing it much throughout the season.

On Thursday, the team is travelling across the country to Santa Clara, California, to play Santa Clara University. Last season, Santa Clara had an overall record of 21-13, one of the 21 victories being over McNeese. During the “Will Wade era,” Santa Clara was the only team to defeat the Cowboys on their home court.

Last year, the Broncos received a two seed in the National Invitation Tournament. After winning game one against UC Riverside, they lost to Armstrong’s alma mater, UAB, in the second round 88-84.

This season, the Cowboys head west, looking to avenge their only home loss in the last two seasons. With Armstrong, his staff, and an impressive roster, the Cowboys are working hard to prepare for a very tough upcoming schedule.

“We’re going to try to use our athleticism against their size, and it’s very much a contrast in style of play between the two teams, but we’re excited about the opportunity,” Armstrong said about Santa Clara. “They’re a great team. I think we’re a good team, and we’re going to go give them everything they want.”

On Monday, Nov. 3, in the Townsley Law Arena, the McNeese men’s basketball team made history with a 62 point victory over Champion Christian College. The Cowboys beat the record for most points scored in the arena with a final score of 127-65.

Over 2,000 people attended the season-opening game for the Cowboys, who came out guns ablazing and jumped out to an early lead. Even though the team didn’t score first, in their second possession, Jacolb Fredson-Cole drained a quick 3-pointer to take the lead. For the next 38 minutes, the Cowboys made it their mission to expand the gap.

Fredson-Cole not only scored the first three of the game, he tallied up 11 points and led the team in assists, with six. Javohn Garcia led the team in steals, swiping three of 14 total steals.

Yanis Ndjonga led the team with 11 rebounds, securing nine on the offensive end and two on the defensive end.

The leading scorer of the game was Larry Johnson. Johnson scored 30 points for the Cowboys, shooting 12 for 16 from the field and six for six from the free-throw line. Playing just short of 18 minutes, Johnson was a key player in the game's upward momentum.

The Cowboys put up 39 points off the Tigers’ 23 turnovers, scored 72 points in the paint and 15 second-chance points. They also scored 34 points off fast breaks. Off-the-bench players totalled 68 points.

From the free-throw line, McNeese shot 78.8-percent. The team shot 52.9-percent from the floor and 31.0-percent from the three.

All-in-all, the Cowboys had an extremely successful debut. Bill Armstrong, in his first-ever Division I game as a head coach, was satisfied with the team’s win, however, they still have a lot of work to do.

Defensively, Armstrong said the effort was lacking. The Cowboys allowed 40 points to be scored in the second half, which is not something he is looking for on a game-by-game basis. On the other hand, Armstrong was happy with the teams’ offense, which put up 87 shots. He explained that offensively they are trying to get a shot on goal as quickly as possible, which allows them to go on big scoring runs.

Armstrong said that he enjoyed seeing the players having fun and playing hard together on the court. In preparation for Santa Clara on Friday, Armstrong said that he wants to continue building strength and confidence in his players, so they go out and play to the best of their ability.

Larry Johnson, who was named “Player of the Game,” said that Armstrong tells them to go out and be themselves, which is what he aims to do every game. Even though he isn’t a starter, Johnson makes the most out of watching the flow of the game from the bench, which then helps him gauge what adjustments he needs to make when he hits the floor.

Like Armstrong, Johnson and the rest of the team want to continue the winning culture. The Cowboys aren’t rebuilding a team from scratch but rather renewing the momentum and energy from last season.

“They were champions last year, and we are going to do that again this year,” Johnson said.

Armstrong, again, thanks the community for showing their support. He is forever grateful for the fans and the crowd that cheer on the team.

Official Box Score — McNeese vs Champion Christian

Nov. 3, 2025 • Townsley Law Arena, Lake Charles • Final: McNeese 127, Champion Christian 65 • Game Time: 6:30 PM

McNeese — 127

• FG
  46-87 (52.9%)
• 3PT
  9-29 (31.0%)
• FT
  26-33 (78.8%)
• Offensive Rebounds
  24
• Defensive Rebounds
  33
• Total Rebounds
  57
• Assists
  28
• Turnovers
  7
• Steals
  14
• Blocked Shots
  6

Champion Christian — 65

• FG
  24-66 (36.4%)
• 3PT
  13-41 (31.7%)
• FT
  4-6 (66.7%)
• Offensive Rebounds
  9
• Defensive Rebounds
  21
• Total Rebounds
  30
• Assists
  11
• Turnovers
  23
• Steals
  4
• Blocked Shots
  1

Points off turnovers	39	9
Points in paint	72	12
Second chance points	15	4
Fast break points	34	2
Bench points	68	35

Team	1st	2nd	Total
	70	57	127
	25	40	65

Team
1st
70
25
2nd
57
40
Total
127
65

Technical Fouls: None

McNeese Player Stats

No.	Name	Min Played	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
08	Tyshawn Archie	21:00	16	3	5	1
02	DJ Richards	21:00	13	4	2	0
10	Jacolb Fredson-Cole	17:00	11	7	6	2
01	Javohn Garcia	21:00	10	2	3	3
13	Yanis Ndjonga	15:00	9	11	1	2
06	Larry Johnson	18:00	30	7	0	1
03	Garwey Dual	22:00	15	4	5	2
23	Carl Cherenfant	23:00	7	6	1	2
07	Jerrell Colbert	16:00	7	6	1	0
15	Peitok Machar	15:00	7	4	1	0
09	JJ Rembert	11:00	2	0	3	1

Champion Christian Player Stats

No.	Name	Min Played	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
20	Kris Barnett	24	10	3	1	2
01	Travious Benjamin	27	9	1	1	0
04	Cam Parker	25	8	3	1	1
05	Damian Bohlman	19	3	4	1	0
23	Chad Milne	19	0	3	1	0
14	Dominic McBride	15	14	3	5	0
22	Jackson Lawley	6	8	0	0	0
03	Trevor Vertiz	20	6	1	1	0
12	Josh Bartig	11	5	3	3	0
33	Hayden Foster	4	2	2	0	0
34	Cade Wilson	10	0	1	1	0
24	Johnny Carswell	9	0	2	0	0
11	Robert Carrigan	4	0	1	0	0
32	Ashton Caughron	4	0	0	0	0
15	Caleb Ross	3	0	0	0	0

On Sunday, Oct. 18, 2025, the McNeese State University men's basketball team travelled to New Orleans, Louisiana, to play Tulane University in a closed scrimmage. The teams played at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse on Tulane's campus.

The Cowboys left New Orleans with a 78-59 win against Tulane, who are third in the American Conference preseason rankings. McNeese held the lead for 39 minutes, with their biggest lead being 25 points.

McNeese's top scorer of the game was Tyshawn Archie, who put up 18 points for the Cowboys. Archie also led the team in steals, having five out of the team's 12 total steals.

Garwey Dual led the team in assists off the bench. He earned five assists for the Cowboys.

Two players tied for the most rebounds, both Javohn Garcia and Jacolb Fredson-Cole with six rebounds apiece. Garcia had four offensive rebounds and two defensive rebounds, while Fredson-Cole had one offensive rebound and five defensive rebounds.

The Cowboys scored 22 points off turnovers and earned 13 "second chance" points. They also scored 38 points in the paint and 15 points off of fast breaks. Players "off the bench" combined for a total of 29 of the team's 78 points.

McNeese only gave up 10 points on their 10 total turnovers. Their percentages included 83-percent in free throws, 48-percent in field goals, and 38-percent from the three-point line.

Overall, the team is satisfied with their performance against Tulane and are continuing to work hard to prepare for the season ahead. The most important part of the game is staying true to their identity, McNeese head coach Bill Armstrong said. He and the rest of the team are excited for what the future holds, and they hope to continue the upward momentum.

The Cowboys play again on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, at home in The Townsley Law Arena for an exhibition game against Grambling State University.

Official Box Score — McNeese at Tulane

Oct. 19, 2025 • Devlin Fieldhouse, New Orleans • Final: McNeese 78, Tulane 59 • Game Time: 3:00 PM • Duration: 1:48

McNeese — 78

• FG
  29-61 (47.5%)
• 3PT
  10-26 (38.5%)
• FT
  10-12 (83.3%)
• Offensive Rebounds
  14
• Defensive Rebounds
  22
• Total Rebounds
  36
• Personal Fouls
  22
• Shooting Fouls
  9
• Assists
  16
• Turnovers
  10
• Steals
  12
• Blocked Shots
  4
• Blocked Against
  3

1st: FG 15-29 • 3PT 5-11

2nd: FG 14-32 • 3PT 5-15

Tulane — 59

• FG
  18-42 (42.9%)
• 3PT
  4-19 (21.1%)
• FT
  19-27 (70.4%)
• Offensive Rebounds
  6
• Defensive Rebounds
  18
• Total Rebounds
  24
• Personal Fouls
  9
• Shooting Fouls
  22
• Assists
  8
• Turnovers
  16
• Steals
  3
• Blocked Shots
  3
• Blocked Against
  4

1st: FG 9-23 • 3PT 1-11

2nd: FG 9-19 • 3PT 3-8

Biggest lead	25 (2nd 7:31)	0 (1st 20:00)
Best scoring run	9 (2nd 19:28)	5 (1st 3:46)
Lead changes	0
Times tied	0
Time with lead	39:18	00:00

Points off turnovers	22	10
Points in paint	38	24
Second chance points	13	9
Fast break points	15	12
Bench points	29	22

Team	1st	2nd	Total
	41	37	78
	26	33	59

Team
1st
41
26
2nd
37
33
Total
78
59

Technical Fouls: None

McNeese Player Stats

No.	Name	Min Played	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
10	Jacolb Fredson-Cole	23:24	5	6	1	1
13	Yanis Ndjonga	14:50	8	1	0	0
1	Javohn Garcia	26:19	7	6	2	1
2	DJ Richards Jr.	21:38	11	2	1	1
8	Tyshawn Archie	27:10	18	4	3	5
7	Jerrell Colbert	12:05	0	0	0	0
23	Carl Cherenfant	16:36	4	3	0	1
3	Garwey Dual	22:15	12	4	5	1
6	Larry Johnson	22:13	9	5	4	2
15	Peitok Machar	10:30	4	4	0	0

Tulane Player Stats

No.	Name	Min Played	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
23	Percy Daniels	26:04	4	2	0	0
5	Scotty Middleton	11:38	0	1	0	0
7	Rowan Brumbaugh	28:47	2	3	4	0
22	Asher Woods	37:38	11	2	3	0
99	Curtis Williams Jr.	25:27	20	5	0	1
0	Tyler Ringgold	24:54	10	1	0	0
9	KJ Greene	12:35	0	2	0	1
55	Davion Bradford	10:36	5	2	0	0
1	Josiah Moore	22:21	7	4	1	1

After the fun-filled fanfest exhibition game on Sunday, Oct. 26, the McNeese men’s basketball team will face Champion Christian College head-to-head in their first official game of the season.

The Cowboys have performed well in the preseason, winning against notable opponents, Tulane and Grambling State, in a closed scrimmage and exhibition game. On Nov. 3, the season officially starts, with McNeese going up against Champion Christian College.

Champion Christian is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association. Last season, the Tiger’s overall record was 17-13, with a 15-9 conference record. Champion Christian also defeated Ozark Christian College in the NCCAA Southwest Regional Championship.

McNeese is looking to build off of last season’s success. The 2024-25 Cowboys had an overall record of 28-7 and a conference record of 19-1. Including a second consecutive Southland Conference regular season and tournament Championship culminating with the school’s first ever NCAA Tournament win against Clemson.

This season, McNeese is being led by head coach Bill Armstrong. With returning players Javohn Garcia, DJ Richards and T’Johnn Brown, the Cowboys have the foundation for another great year.

On Monday, McNeese was ranked No. 20 in the CollegeInsider.com Men’s Mid-Major Top 25. The Cowboys have earned a spot in the poll for the third year in a row, making their first appearance in school history in 2023 with former head coach Will Wade.

About 1,700 tickets have been sold for the game so far. Tip-off starts at 6:30 p.m., so any fans who haven’t bought tickets online can buy general admission at the door.

The women’s basketball team will hold their season opener on Nov. 3 at 11 a.m. in the Townsley Law Arena against Pensacola Christian College. The Cowgirls have also gotten off to a successful start. In their two closed scrimmages, they had a 75-54 win against Grambling on Oct. 21 and a 61-58 win against Southern on Oct. 27.

Like Champion Christian, Pensacola Christian College is a part of the NCCAA. Last season, the Eagles had an overall record of 25-5 with a 8-0 conference record, which put them as the No.1 seed in the Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship. Pensacola Christian made the NCCAA Tournament as well, but were ultimately defeated in the first round.

Last season, McNeese ended with a 10-21 overall record, going 5-15 in the Southland Conference. The Cowgirls are gearing up for an immediate turnaround with new head coach Ayla Guzzardo, who led Southeastern University to two Southland Conference Championships in her time there.

The Cowgirls were announced as “receiving votes” for the CollegeInsider.com Women’s Mid-Major Top 25 poll.

This season's opening game also marks McNeese’s third annual “Education Game,” which brings local elementary school students to campus to cheer on the Cowgirls. For last year's event, McNeese defeated Southeastern Baptist College 99-19.

Both teams encourage the community to come out and show their support, and they thank everyone who has contributed to the growth and success of McNeese basketball.

“We’re just excited to be here… excited about the opportunity to continue the tradition of winning here at McNeese and going for that third straight conference championship," Armstrong said in a press conference with PokeVision.

“This team is excited to be in this community because this community wants to win championships,” Guzzardo said in a press conference with PokeVision. “They’re bought in the same way we’re bought in.”

The McNeese women’s basketball team secured another pre-season win against Southern University in the Townsley Law Arena yesterday, Oct. 27, at 3 p.m.

The close 61-58 defeat over the Jaguars is the Cowgirls’ second closed-scrimmage win. The team beat Grambling State last week in an impressive 75-54 shutout.

McNeese’s leading scorer was Allasia Washington, who ended with 14 points. Washington tied with Jalencia Pierre for steals, each with three out of the team’s 10 total steals.

Lexi Alexander led the team with six total rebounds, three on the offense and three on the defense. Dakota Howard and Tyreona Sibley followed Alexander with five rebounds each.

Six of the Cowgirls helped the team in assists. Jalencia Pierre, Allasia Washington, Kaili Chamberlin, Avari Berry, Mo’Nique Joseph and Carley Hamilton, each ended the game with two assists.

The Cowgirls fought hard in this scrimmage and held the lead for over 37 minutes, with their biggest lead being 15 points. The team shot 66.7-percent from the free-throw line, 42.6-percent in field goals and 23.1-percent from the three.

McNeese only allowed 13 points on 20 turnovers and were able to gain 30 points on Southern’s 27 turnovers. The Cowgirls scored 38 points in the paint, 14 points off fast breaks and scored 11 second-chance points. Off-the-bench players aided the team with 21 points.

Overall, this is a big win for McNeese. Last year, Southern had a 15-3 conference record and was first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Jaguars also won the SWAC conference championship, earning them a spot in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

On Nov. 3, the Cowgirls are competing in their season opener versus Pensacola Christian College. Head coach Ayla Guzzardo and the team are excited to kick off the season right, turning the program around from last year’s 10-21 overall record.

Official Box Score — McNeese vs Southern

Oct. 27, 2025 • Townsley Law Arena, Lake Charles • Final: McNeese 61, Southern 58 • Game Time: 3:00 PM • Duration: 2:00

McNeese — 61

• FG
  23-54 (42.6%)
• 3PT
  3-13 (23.1%)
• FT
  12-18 (66.7%)
• Offensive Rebounds
  10
• Defensive Rebounds
  17
• Total Rebounds
  27
• Personal Fouls
  25
• Shooting Fouls
  25
• Assists
  13
• Turnovers
  20
• Steals
  10
• Blocked Shots
  1
• Blocked Against
  4

1st: FG 7-14 (50%) • 3PT 1-3 (33.3%)

2nd: FG 7-10 (70%) • 3PT 1-1 (100%)

3rd: FG 6-18 (33.3%) • 3PT 0-5 (0%)

4th: FG 3-12 (25%) • 3PT 1-4 (25%)

Southern — 58

• FG
  16-36 (44.4%)
• 3PT
  4-14 (28.6%)
• FT
  22-26 (84.6%)
• Offensive Rebounds
  4
• Defensive Rebounds
  24
• Total Rebounds
  28
• Personal Fouls
  25
• Shooting Fouls
  25
• Assists
  10
• Turnovers
  27
• Steals
  10
• Blocked Shots
  4
• Blocked Against
  1

1st: FG 6-10 (60%) • 3PT 0-2 (0%)

2nd: FG 4-8 (50%) • 3PT 2-5 (40%)

3rd: FG 3-8 (37.5%) • 3PT 2-3 (66.7%)

4th: FG 3-10 (30%) • 3PT 0-4 (0%)

Biggest lead	15 (3rd 5:55)	1 (2nd 8:22)
Best scoring run	8 (2nd 3:34)	8 (4th 0:21)
Lead changes	2
Times tied	3
Time with lead	37:15	00:14

Points off turnovers	30	13
Points in paint	38	12
Second chance points	11	2
Fast break points	14	7
Bench points	21	36

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
	17	21	15	8	61
	16	12	15	15	58

Team
1st
17
16
2nd
21
12
3rd
15
15
4th
8
15
Total
61
58

Technical Fouls: None

McNeese Player Stats

No.	Name	Min Played	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
0	Lexi Alexander	23:47	5	6	1	1
1	Jalencia Pierre	27:27	10	2	2	3
2	Arianna Patton	18:34	2	1	0	0
3	Allasia Washington	27:31	14	2	2	3
24	Dakota Howard	20:21	9	5	0	2
6	Kaili Chamberlin	13:23	2	2	2	0
7	Tyreona Sibley	23:00	10	5	0	0
8	Avari Berry	12:29	0	1	2	0
13	Mo'Nique Joseph	13:24	5	1	2	0
20	Carley Hamilton	20:04	4	0	2	1

Southern Player Stats

No.	Name	Min Played	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
2	Jaylia Reed	3:11	0	0	1	0
5	D'Shantae Edwards	15:50	2	0	0	0
8	Mykayla Cunningham	29:26	2	4	5	1
15	Olivia Delancy	18:31	7	2	0	1
21	Zaria Hurston	19:25	11	4	1	1
24	DeMya Porter	22:11	3	3	1	1
4	Jocelyn Tate	16:36	7	3	0	1
10	Demonnie Lagway	15:11	50	0	2	3
14	Jestiny Dixon	23:50	4	4	0	2
32	Xyllize Harrison	7:35	2	3	0	0
0	Aubri Wilkins	20:25	13	2	0	0
13	Anaja Hall	7:49	2	1	0	0

In an explosive season-opener at the Townsley Law Arena, the McNeese women’s basketball team earned their first victory over Pensacola Christian College. The Cowgirls led the Eagles to a final 100-38 score in a thrilling season debut.

In front of a crowd of a couple thousand elementary school kids at McNeese’s annual “Education Day” game, the Cowgirls gave fans something to cheer about. The kids screamed loudly when the ball went in the basket, waving their handmade posters and pompoms.

To begin the first quarter, McNeese won the tipoff and scored a deep three from Allasia Washington. The rest was history. The Cowgirls played lock-down defense, only allowing the Eagles to score five points in the first quarter of the game.

Arianna Patton, a 5-foot-5 guard, was the team’s leading scorer, with 19 points. Another starting guard, Jalencia Pierre, led the team with 11 assists and six out of the team's 22 total steals.

Lexi Alexander and Carley Hamilton led in rebounds, both recording seven rebounds each. Alexander had four offensive rebounds and three defensive rebounds, and Hamilton had two offensive rebounds and five defensive rebounds.

The Cowgirls scored 49 points off turnovers and didn’t allow any points on their seven turnovers. McNeese also scored 46 points in the paint, 26 second chance points and 34 points off fast breaks. Off-the-bench players combined for a total of 44 points.

McNeese’s aggressive play style never wavered. Defensively, the team forced 35 turnovers and had 25 defensive rebounds. The Cowgirls were able to capitalize off mistakes on the court, which allowed them to secure an early lead.

The team shot 77.8-percent from the free-throw line, 44-percent in field goals and 42.9-percent from the 3-point line.

Overall, the Cowgirls gave Lake Charles a taste of what they’re made of. Head coach Ayla Guzzardo said she wants to continue this success going forward and build off what they accomplished in this game.

Guzzardo said she was impressed by the play in transition and aims to force at least 30 turnovers in every game. She also commented on the need to play consistently up and down the court and the team's ability to continue a fast-paced style throughout the whole game.

Arianna Patton, who was named “The Player of the Game,” said that the team’s goal is to put on a show for the crowd. She said that they want to excite people, and she is happy that they were able to show fans what they have to offer.

“We want to set the tone… we want to get the crowd excited,” Patton said. “We want to show them that we can compete at the highest level.”

The Cowgirls’ cap has not been reached, and Guzzardo said she wants more. On Thursday, Nov. 6, McNeese is competing head-to-head with Alabama, which will be an even bigger test.

Guzzardo said that Alabama is going to really challenge them and will further prepare them for the season ahead. Today was just a sample of the excitement the Cowgirls are going to bring to the Townsley Law Arena all season long.

Official Box Score — McNeese vs Pensacola Christian

Nov. 3, 2025 • Townsley Law Arena, Lake Charles • Final: McNeese 100, Pensacola Christian 38 • Game Time: 11:00 AM

McNeese — 100

• FG
  37-84 (44.0%)
• 3PT
  12-28 (42.9%)
• FT
  14-18 (77.8%)
• Offensive Rebounds
  19
• Defensive Rebounds
  25
• Total Rebounds
  44
• Assists
  26
• Turnovers
  7
• Steals
  22
• Blocked Shots
  1

Pensacola Christian — 38

• FG
  16-41 (39.0%)
• 3PT
  4-22 (18.2%)
• FT
  2-4 (50.0%)
• Offensive Rebounds
  1
• Defensive Rebounds
  31
• Total Rebounds
  32
• Assists
  7
• Turnovers
  35
• Steals
  3
• Blocked Shots
  1

Points off turnovers	49	0
Points in paint	46	14
Second chance points	26	2
Fast break points	34	0
Bench points	44	13

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
	39	20	15	26	100
	5	8	16	9	38

Team
1st
39
5
2nd
20
8
3rd
15
16
4th
26
9
Total
100
38

Technical Fouls: None

McNeese Player Stats

No.	Name	Min Played	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
02	Arianna Patton	17	19	4	1	1
24	Dakota Howard	21	14	6	0	2
03	Allasia Washington	18	10	1	4	3
00	Lexi Alexander	15	9	7	0	3
01	Jalencia Pierre	18	4	2	11	6
07	Tyreona Sibley	22	9	6	0	2
20	Carley Hamilton	20	9	7	2	0
06	Kaili Chamberlin	13	8	2	0	2
05	Jamari Bell	11	6	0	0	0
08	Avari Berry	23	5	1	0	2
13	Mo'Nique Joseph	17	5	5	1	1
33	A'Yiana Flemings	5	2	2	0	0

Pensacola Christian Player Stats

No.	Name	Min Played	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
20	Amy Ahrens	25	10	5	0	1
03	Brooklyn Bosher	31	7	6	1	0
25	Sky Boyd	29	6	3	1	1
04	Micah Coalson	23	2	4	0	0
07	Amber Dudek	22	2	3	2	0
14	Autumn Boutwell	10	6	1	0	0
23	Reagan Moilan	14	4	1	0	0
35	Kayla Cassarino	5	2	0	0	0
22	Lydia Adams	13	1	2	2	0
21	Lilly Talladay	1	1	0	0	0
09	Abby Matney	9	0	3	1	0
24	Grace Bieber	8	0	3	1	0
15	Maddie Sellers	6	0	0	0	0
33	Maddie Fowler	6	0	0	0	0
10	Mady Bruce	1	0	0	0	0

The McNeese women's basketball team secured a win against Grambling State University on Oct. 21, at 3 p.m. The team travelled over three hours north to Grambling, Louisiana, to play the Tigers in a closed scrimmage at Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

This scrimmage marked the Cowgirl's first unofficial road win, with a 75 to 54 score, defeating Grambling by 21 points.

Tyreona Sibley was a team leader in the scrimmage, scoring 20 points and shooting 42-percent on the floor. Ariana Patton was another asset to Tuesday's game, going 4 for 9 from the three-point line.

Both Jalencia Pierre and Avari Berry aided the team with their offensive skill. Pierre ended the game with five assists and Berry with four assists.

The team collectively earned 84-percent from the free-throw line, which further padded the Cowgirl's 21-point lead.

Guzzardo and her team are excited for the upcoming season, and they hope to continue the upward momentum. The team is working hard everyday to reach their full potential.

The Cowgirls will host their second closed scrimmage at home versus Southern on Monday, Oct. 27. Their first official game is at 11 a.m. on Nov. 3, in The Townsley Law Arena.

The Cowboys defeated Grambling State University in an exhibition game Sunday, Oct. 26, on their home court.

In the Townsley Law Arena, the McNeese men's basketball team debuted their skills in front of a crowd, executing a 62-56 win over the Tigers.

While the Cowboys ultimately secured the win, they got off to a slow start, ending the first half 25-28. In the second half, the team upped the pace, outscoring Grambling 37-28, which cemented their lead in the end.

The leading scorers for the game were Tyshawn Archie and Larry Johnson, who both scored 14 points. Johnson also won the game in rebounds, with four on the offense and seven on the defense.

Four players helped the team in assists. Javohn Garcia, DJ Richards, Tyshawn Archie and Garwey Dual, completing the game with two assists each. Three of these same players, DJ Richards, Tyshawn Archie and Garwey Dual, also lead the team in steals, each earning two out of nine total steals.

Even though Grambling led the game in the first half, the Cowboys outshot the Tigers in free throws, with 71.4-percent, and field-goal percentage, with 41.4-percent. Grambling, on the other hand, shot 40.7-percent on the floor and 18.2-percent in free throws.

The Cowboys capitalized on turnovers, scoring 20 points off of the Tiger's 15 turnovers. McNeese also outscored Grambling with 40 points in the paint and 16 points off fast breaks. Off-the-bench players aided McNeese with 24 points.

While ultimately clinching a win, McNeese still has some work to do. Head coach Bill Armstrong explained that he is satisfied with shot selection, but aims to increase shot percentage, specifically from the three.

He expressed excitement about his team never flinching when they got down early. They stayed together and found a way to win a hard-fought battle, which is something they can build off of, Armstrong said.

He also said that he is impressed by the team's ability to adjust to an aggressive offense. Even when the stakes were high and shots weren't falling, the Cowboys were able to make the shift needed to get stops and prevent the lead from getting out of control.

After the game, the Cowboys joined the women's team to greet the crowd, take pictures and sign autographs. Armstrong thanked everyone who came out and showed support for the team, and he is excited to see everyone in the arena on Monday for another exciting game.

Over the next week, the Cowboys will continue to work out any kinks to prepare for their first official game on Nov. 3 against Champion Chrisitian. Both McNeese basketball teams are set to open their seasons in a double-header on Monday, with the Cowgirls playing Pensacola Christian College at 11 a.m.

Official Box Score — McNeese vs Grambling

Oct. 26, 2025 • Townsley Law Arena, Lake Charles • Final: McNeese 62, Grambling 56 • Game Time: 3:00 PM • Duration: 1:52

McNeese — 62

• FG
  24-58 (41.38%)
• 3PT
  4-26 (15.38%)
• FT
  10-14 (71.43%)
• Offensive Rebounds
  9
• Defensive Rebounds
  26
• Total Rebounds
  35
• Personal Fouls
  16
• Shooting Fouls
  14
• Assists
  10
• Turnovers
  11
• Steals
  9
• Blocked Shots
  5
• Blocked Against
  4

1st: FG 9-28 (32.1%) • 3PT 2-15 (13.3%)

2nd: FG 15-30 (50%) • 3PT 2-11 (18.2%)

Grambling — 56

• FG
  24-59 (40.68%)
• 3PT
  6-24 (25%)
• FT
  2-11 (18.18%)
• Offensive Rebounds
  14
• Defensive Rebounds
  25
• Total Rebounds
  39
• Personal Fouls
  14
• Shooting Fouls
  16
• Assists
  15
• Turnovers
  15
• Steals
  6
• Blocked Shots
  4
• Blocked Against
  5

1st: FG 11-29 (37.9%) • 3PT 5-13 (38.5%)

2nd: FG 13-30 (43.3%) • 3PT 1-11 (9.1%)

Biggest lead	8 (2nd 14:21)	10 (1st 6:19)
Best scoring run	8 (2nd 15:43)	5 (1st 13:55)
Lead changes	5
Times tied	6
Time with lead	16:40	15:34

Points off turnovers	24	8
Points in paint	40	32
Second chance points	4	5
Fast break points	16	15
Bench points	24	32

Team	1st	2nd	Total
	25	37	62
	28	28	56

Team
1st
25
28
2nd
37
28
Total
62
56

Technical Fouls: None

McNeese Player Stats

No.	Name	Min Played	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
10	Jacolb Fredson-Cole	16:07	6	2	1	0
13	Yanis Ndjonga	13:03	0	2	0	0
1	Javohn Garcia	29:56	11	2	2	1
2	DJ Richards Jr.	25:19	7	4	2	2
8	Tyshawn Archie	25:19	14	3	2	2
3	Garwey Dual	16:27	2	0	2	2
6	Larry Johnson	23:53	14	3	0	1
7	Jerrell Colbert	11:14	0	0	0	0
23	Carl Cherenfant	23:05	4	1	1	0
15	Peitok Machar	15:39	4	0	0	1

Grambling Player Stats

No.	Name	Min Played	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
1	Roderick Coffee III	27:12	0	4	7	1
10	Richard Amaefule	7:41	1	1	0	0
24	Randarius Jones	20:42	0	7	2	1
0	Derrius Ward	33:30	8	5	1	1
5	Jimel Lane	28:46	15	4	2	0
11	Jamil Muttilib	29:16	13	5	2	2
21	Devyn Franklin	23:11	9	6	0	0
3	Rickey Ballard	12:51	0	2	0	0
15	Antonio Munoz	16:53	10	2	1	1

McNeese State University's president and athletic director, Dr. Wade Rousse and Heath Schroyer, spoke with The Townsley Law Firm about the steps they took to elevate the school's brand.

Before 2023, McNeese experienced 14 years of declining enrollment. Rousse and Schroyer both knew a change had to be made, so they put together a plan to reconfigure the campus and cut back on spending. They also decided that investing in athletics and focusing on external wings of the university was the best way to gain exposure for the school.

"We wanted to create some excitement on our campus that would give us that little marginal edge," Rousse said.

Someone who believed in their strategy from the beginning was Todd Townsley. Townsley and his firm, The Townsley Law Firm, saw the vision, understood the plan and didn't hesitate to invest.

"Todd stepped up and The Townsley Law Firm stepped up because they realized this could have a better effect on the entire region," Rousse explained. "He understands that education truly changes lives."

The Townsley Law Firm has supported McNeese through it all. Even when Rousse and Schroyer were making tough decisions that weren't the most popular. They all knew that changes had to be made and they couldn't keep falling into the same patterns.

This year, McNeese is looking at a 5% revenue increase, the largest increase in 22 years. Freshman enrollment is up about 13%, which is the largest in 45 years. Rousse and Schroyer's plan worked, and they attribute some of their success to the Townsleys, who always believed in them.

"There hasn't been a time where I've called about an event, a table to sponsor… that they've ever said no," Schroyer said about The Townsley Law Firm. "This law firm could be a lot of different places, and they choose to be here because they truly invest in this community."

Not only is enrollment at a high for McNeese, athletics has put the university on the national map and energy is "at an all time high," Schroyer said. McNeese men's basketball are two-time Southland Conference Champions and have earned two NCAA Tournament appearances. Now, for the first time ever, McNeese athletics have four Southland Conference coaches of the year.

"When you see the results of what you're seeing today about us being able to change lives, when you think about the tip of that spear, it was that group of folks that initially believed in Heath, believed in this program that we were going to elevate," Rousse explained.

On Oct. 7, 2025, The Townsley Law Firm became the sponsor of McNeese's indoor sports arena, formerly known as The Legacy Center. The firm is giving the school $4.5 million over the next 15 years.

Schroyer said that this will be a historic moment in McNeese history. People will look back at the time when the Townsley's invested in athletics and realize that their investment kick started growth for the university. Rousse explained that seeing the firm step up and represent McNeese shows what the school is really about.

"Talk is cheap, action is powerful," Rousse added. "If anyone is paying attention, they will see that The Townsley Law Firm cares about southwest Louisiana."

McNeese State University's women's basketball head coach Ayla Guzzardo sat down with Sage Thibodeaux, a partner at The Townsley Law Firm, Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025, to talk about her plans to reignite excitement for the program.

For eight years, Guzzardo was the head coach at Southeastern University. There, she won two of the last three Southland Conference Championships. She aims to bring that same winning energy to McNeese.

"My goal is to change the program into a championship winning team… championship caliber on a year-to-year basis, however long I'm here," Guzzardo said.

Guzzardo said that another key to success is delegation and patience. As a head coach, she takes the time to understand what her players go through. She treats her players with respect and earns theirs in return.

"That's the reason why we work," Guzzardo explained. "We're a family."

While at other institutions she had to worry about fund-raising and promotion for the season, at McNeese, Guzzardo is able to focus solely on her team. She said being a part of a program that will "promote you and your staff," ensures that she can put her energy into what matters.

"My job has become a little bit easier because instead of funding my program… I can just be a basketball coach," Guzzardo said. "Here, I can really focus on coaching and recruiting."

When transitioning to McNeese, Guzzardo was lucky enough to bring her whole roster plus staff members with her from Southeastern. She said it didn't take much convincing.

"I'm only as good as the people surrounding me," Guzzardo explained. "They are great people, and they know what it takes to be successful."

Guzzardo said she leads her team with humility and courage. These are both must-have qualities in any team striving for excellence. She emphasized the importance of a strong team bond and said the team regularly does activities to boost morale.

"We do it all the time, so we don't have to force it," Guzzardo said.

The bond that Guzzardo's team has makes them unique. She explained that much of their success comes from being a family. Fostering that kind of environment not only makes it easier to coach, but it also ignites that winning mentality in the players. When it's game time and the pressure is at its peak, a player will give that extra effort for the team, Guzzardo added.

"Sometimes you don't want to do this extra sprint, but you do it for your teammate, you do it for your family," Guzzardo said. "I know that this place is going to be successful because everybody pours into it."

She continues to build these relationships on and off the court, which further demonstrates the tight-knit, family-like quality of the environment. Even past graduation, Guzzardo keeps tabs on her players, wishing the best for them.

"We love to win, don't get me wrong… but I got to go to one of my former players' weddings last summer," Guzzardo laughed. "That's exciting… Those are the wins."

A big part of any sports team is overcoming adversity. This is something that Guzzardo instills in her team daily. She teaches her players how to handle hardship and how to foster that energy into the game.

"Hopefully we can help make them better people," Guzzardo said. "That's the reason we do this job."

Moving forward, equipped with all of the right resources, Guzzardo and her team are prepping for a great season. She continues to advocate for her team and is accessible to the community.

Building connections with the people of Lake Charles is another one of many goals for Guzzardo, and she is making the most of everything thrown her way.

"We have all the tools, all the resources to be successful, and we just have to put some people in the seats and give them something to cheer about," Guzzardo said. "I've put a lot of effort into this, I'm excited for this… I know at the end of the day, we're gonna get it done."

On Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025, Damon Beard, a partner at The Townsley Law Firm, sat down with McNeese State University's men's basketball head coach Bill Armstrong and assistant coach Robi Coker to talk about their plans to continue the Cowboys' upward momentum.

For the last two years, the Cowboys were led by Will Wade. Wade and his team won two back-to-back Southland Conference Championships and appeared in two NCAA Tournaments.

This year, Armstrong is taking over the team. He and his staff are preparing to continue the team's winning streak. Armstrong said that while he is building upon Wade's blueprint, a key aspect to their success will ultimately come down to being authentic to themselves.

"I've learned a lot from him, but I can't be him," Armstrong added. "To be successful in anything you do, you have to be yourself."

Another important quality in any team are the people. Armstrong and Coker both value relationships, and that is the culture they strive to uphold. They want to make the city of Lake Charles proud and are thankful that the community has fully embraced them and their families.

"Our program, because of Bill's lead, is really founded on relationships," Coker explained. "Sports brings people together… Life's not fun if you don't share it with others."

Fostering strong relationships is important to the coaches on and off the court. They want to set examples, not only for the community, but also to their players. It is their job to make sure they instill greatness in every part of their team.

"That's the culture we want to have," Armstrong said. "Giving everything we've got for each other and loving each other… while working extremely hard and developing and getting better each and every day."

Armstrong and Coker have known each other for over 20 years. Their bond as coaches allows them to blend their coaching styles together seamlessly, and they are able to function on a united front. Not only do the coaches value each other's skills in the work place, they also value each other's friendship.

"He's literally my right hand," Armstrong said about Coker. "I don't know if I could do it without him, and I don't ever want to have to."

Their friendship is why Coker ultimately decided to move his family from Alabama to Louisiana, hours away from him and his wife's families. Coker knew that Armstrong was going to build something special and was supported by his family to take the risk.

"This is a dream come true… to have the opportunity to be in a division one program with this kind of support," Coker explained. "To be able to do it with your best friend in the world… it's a no-brainer for me."

Moving forward, the Cowboys continue to grind to prepare for the upcoming season. Armstrong inherited a winning team, so the pressure is on to keep that streak going. With support from the community and the university, Armstrong and Coker are confident that the team will find success.

"It's very unique to have a president, an athletic director, and a community all with one goal," Coker added. "It's cool to be a part of that."

On Sep. 10, 2025, Todd Townsley, co-founder of The Townsley Law Firm, sat down with McNeese men's basketball player Javohn Garcia to talk about his upcoming season with the Cowboys.

Javohn Garcia is a graduate student at McNeese State University, now serving his third year with the Cowboys. Garcia is from Columbus, Ohio, and before McNeese, he attended College of the Sequoias and the University of Massachusetts. He said that during his time at each of these places, he learned something new about the culture.

"It helped me realize that the world is different," Garcia explained.

For his first two seasons at McNeese, Garcia played for Will Wade, who is now head coaching at North Carolina State University. This season, Garcia is playing for Bill Armstrong, who previously coached at Baylor University as an assistant. He said that he thinks this season is going to be exciting, and the team is coming together well.

"We have a lot of guys that can move… it's going to be a lot of fun in transition," Garcia said. "We got guys that can jump real high and got a lot of wing span and size this year."

Garcia also emphasized the importance of team chemistry. He said that team chemistry is ultimately what allows each player to overcome adversity. It's easier to get through those hard moments as a team that's united.

"We all get along, and I feel like that's important on the court because when it comes down to hard moments, and we get hit with adversity, we're going to need everyone," Garcia added.

The team participates in weekly bonding time that includes dinner at Armstrong's house. The team, staff, family and friends all gather to eat a meal and play games every Sunday. This allows the team to relax and have fun together, which contributes to how well the team gets along.

Last year, Garcia earned MVP of the Southland Conference and continues to lead the team this season. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in general studies in May and is now completing his masters in criminal justice. One of the goals he has for the team is for everyone to graduate and get their degree.

Garcia said that he wants to "lead by example on and off the court."

Garcia wants to be an inspiration to all young athletes who aspire to play at the next level. He explained that if you work hard, you can fulfill your dreams.

"If you want to do something in life, it's not going to be easy," Garcia added. "Never give up."