By james art 
SIOUX FALLS, SD – McNeese basketball head coach Will Wade warned that the first few games of the season will be a period for the new group of players to adjust to each other.
That proved true Monday at The Field of 68 Season Opener Showcase, where South Dakota State held off the talented Cowboys, 80-73, to open the 2024-25 season.
Allyn Breed made her McNeese debut, scoring a game-high 18 points, while Javon Garcia added 15 and Christian Shumate 11.
McNeese made just 39 percent of his shots from the field, going 23-of-59 and sinking 7-of-26 from long range for 27 percent. The Cowboys were outscored 43-29, including 12-8 offensively.
The Jackrabbits, the defending Summit League champions, were led by Joe Sailer’s 18-point performance, while Oscar Cluff and Owen Larson each scored 14. Stoney Hadnot added 12 to round out the double-figure scoring.
Larson and Sailor combined to hit 8 of 16 from 3-point range, until Larson’s trey with 42 seconds to play proved to be the dagger as the Cowboys tried to rally for the late-game win.
Overall, SDSU shot 46 percent from the field (28-61) and 12 of 35 from long range for 34 percent. In the second half, the Jackrabbits made 57 percent of their shots (16-28).
The game was tied 33-33 at halftime when McNeese got back-to-back three-point baskets from DJ Richards, who finished with nine points on the night.
The Cowboys scored the first six points of the second half on 3s by Breed and Garcia, but SDSU rallied to tie the game at 41-41 with 17:10 to play on a Larson fastbreak layup.
A couple of free throws and a dunk by Joe Charles put McNeese back on top 45-41 and the lead was 48-46 at 15:01 after a couple of free throws by Richards.
The Jackrabbits responded with an 8-0 run, started by a 3 from Jackson, to take a 54-58 lead with 13:18 to play. The lead grew to 59-59 three minutes later and it was 66-57 with 7:36 left when the Cowboys started to pull away.
Charles and Garcia sank back-to-back 3s to pull McNeese to within 66-63, then a few minutes later and trailing 75-72, the Cowboys saw four straight jumpers fall from the mark in an attempt to pull within 1 or tie the game.
But on fourth down and off an offensive rebound by Brandon Murray, Shumate was sent to the line where he went 1 of 2 to cut the deficit to 75-73 with 1:29 to play.
Charles drew an offensive ricochet off Shumate’s miss and hit a 3-pointer that was off target. Shumate caught the rebound and had an open look for a 3-pointer, which he missed with 1:06 to play.
SDSU got a rebound and Larson sank a 3-pointer with 42 seconds left to give the Jackrabbits a 78-73 lead, then added another basket on a McNeese layup with 17 seconds to play.
McNeese will then open their homestand Thursday night at 7:30 against Biblical Studies in the second game of a doubleheader with the Cowgirls.