HOUSTON --  Houston Christian University fell in an early hole and could climb back out, succumbing to league-leading McNeese State University 76-59 before a raucous Sharp Gym crowd on Monday night. The Pokes got out to a 10-0 advantage and never looked back, snapping HCU's two-game winning streak in the process.
 
Four points each from Christian Shumate and Javohn Garcia capped a ten-point spurt out of the gates for the defending Southland champs, as they held HCU scoreless for the first 6:11 of the night. HCU got a three-pointer from Peyton Rogers to snap the McNeese run and cut the lead in half on a layup from Bryson Dawkins.
 
The Huskies then went on a prolonged dry spell, managing just four points over the next 10 minutes, as the Cowboys continued to build the lead. Eight straight points from Julian Mackey, including two three-pointers and a three-point play by Elijah Brooks with 54 seconds remaining in the half sent the hosts to the intermission trailing 39-20.
 
McNeese came out of the break with a 10-4 run to push the lead back to 25 on a layup by Joe Charles. The Huskies would then mount a run. A mid-range jumper plus the foul from D'Aundre Samuels cut the lead to 21, and consecutive steals by Samuels led to fast-break scores from Pierce Bazil, splicing the lead to 17. Trent Johnson's dunk on another assist from Samuels cut the lead to 14, 52-38 with just over 12 minutes to go.
 
The Huskies could get no closer however as McNeese answered every HCU burst to finish out the game. Back-to-back three-pointers by Samuels and Mason McBride closed the gap to 16 with 1:32 to go, but the two teams went scoreless the rest of the way to provide the final score.
 
A 28% effort from the floor in the first half set the tone for the Huskies before a more efficient second frame. HCU finished the night at 40% from the floor but just 26% from the arc and 60% from the free-throw line. Meanwhile the Cowboys shot 53% in the first half and 48% for the night. The Pokes scored 40 points in the paint and forced 17 turnovers to offset 33% shooting from range and just 53% from the charity stripe.
 
Samuels was the lone player in double-digits for the Huskies, his second straight such outing. He matched his season-high with 15 points while posting season-bests of five rebounds, five assists and matching a career-high with three steals.
 
Julian Mackey added nine points and Bryson Dawkins chipped in seven and a team-high seven boards.
 
The defending league champs remained perfect in conference play with their sixth win, improving to 12-5 overall. The Pokes played eight players withfive of those denting the double-figure column in scoring, paced by DJ Richards and Javohn Garcia's 16 points apiece. That pair also contributed four steals each, while Garcia added seven caroms. Christian Shumate and Joe Charles registered 11 points each, while Quadir Copeland had 10 points, four boards and a game-high seven assists.
 
HCU has its two-game winning streak snapped, falling to 6-11 overall while going back to even in SLC mark at 3-3. The homestand continues when the Huskies return to action on Saturday afternoon, hosting league newcomer UTRGV in the second half of a doubleheader with the women. Tip-off is slated for 3:30 pm in Sharp Gym.
 
 
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