Box Score

GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS – The McNeese Cowboys (6-1) put together a sensational second half Tuesday evening against Middle Tennessee (4-3), toppling the Blue Raiders, 72-62. With the victory, McNeese captured the 2025 Cayman Islands Classic championship by cruising to a 3-0 record on the island.
 
Senior guard Javohn Garcia, who was limited by foul trouble in the first half, scored 23 of his game-high 26 points in the second period to pace the effort. Garcia was 8-for-11 from the field, hit 2-of-3 from long range, and poured in all eight of his free throw tries.

As a team, the Cowboys shot 23-for-25 at the free throw line. 

Joining Garcia in double figures, Tyshawn Archie scored 15 points, while Carl Chernfant added seven points, a game-high 10 rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Four Blue Raiders scored in double digits, topped by Kamari Lands with 18 points, going 5-for-8 from 3-point range. Jahvin Carter, making his first career start, had 13 points and three assists. Sean Smith added 13 points, four assists and two steals., while Alec Oglesby chipped in with 12.
 
Middle Tennessee took the lead on the opening basket and held the advantage for 29 minutes, before McNeese tied things at 48-48 at the 11:09 mark of the second half. The Blue Raiders had double-digit leads three times, the largest being at 11 points with 9:09 to play in the period.
 
Likewise, McNeese’s largest lead of the contest was also 11 points, a number they managed twice.

In outscoring the Blue Raiders 44-28 in the second half, McNeese owned a 23-10 edge in rebounds, helping the Cowboys post a 38-31 game advantage. That included 18 offensive rebounds. It allowed McNeese a 17-4 difference in second chance points. 

McNeese also claimed a 22-6 advantage in scoring in the paint. 

Middle Tennessee was able to build a 34-28 lead at halftime primarily by not falling victim to the McNeese pressure. The Blue Raiders had a 21-5 edge in rebounds at the break and shot 6-of-12 from distance in the opening 20 minutes. They were 4-of-10 after the break.