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LAKE CHARLES, La. - Southland Conference leading scorer Patrick Richard pitched in a game-high 27 points, including seven-straight in the final minutes to give McNeese State (15-10) a 74-61 win over Southeast Missouri (14-13) Saturday afternoon at Burton Coliseum.

Southeast hooked up with McNeese State for the first time as part of the ESPN Sears BracketBusters, involving all 11 Ohio Valley Conference teams.

“We are disappointed that we didn't come in here and win,” said Southeast head coach Dickey Nutt. “We just have to be tougher. It doesn't matter if it's conference or non-conference.”

It was a see-saw battle until the last 5:09 when McNeese State used a 13-3 run to secure its eighth-straight win. The Cowboys also scored the final 10 points of the game.

After Michael Porter's layup cut McNeese State's lead to 64-61, Richard led a stretch of 10 unanswered points in the final 3:18.

Shortly after Rudy Turner knocked down a free throw, Patrick buried a three-pointer and followed that up with four free throws to grab McNeese State a 72-61 lead with 35 seconds remaining. Kevin Hardy's layup capped the late surge to finish off the 74-61 victory.

The Redhawks shot 0-of-6 from the field and missed two layups in the last 3-plus minutes.

Southeast opened the game with a 12-4 run, as Marland Smith and Nick Niemczyk each knocked down a three-pointer on the Redhawks first two possessions.

McNeese State, however, would recover to nab a slight 36-35 edge at the intermission.

Tyler Stone's jumper gave Southeast a 49-47 advantage with just under 13 minutes left in the second half, but the Redhawks would not lead again.

Niemczyk shot 50 percent (8-of-16) from the field en route to a team-high 18 points, including 12 in the first half. He also pulled down four rebounds and dished out one assist in 35 minutes.

Stone, after going scoreless against Murray State on Feb. 15, followed with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Southeast shot a season-low 36.9 percent (24-of-65) from the field, marking its second-straight game shooting under .400.

Richard hit 8-of-14 field goals and did not miss from three-point range (3-of-3). He added 8-of-10 free throws, as well.

The Cowboys shot 51.9 percent (27-of-52) on the day and heated up to make 15 of their 27 field goals (.556) in the second half.

Additionally, McNeese State had six blocks, including four by Turner.

The Redhawks fell to 1-6 all-time in BracketBuster games.

Southeast, which went 5-8 in non-conference play this season, returns to OVC action at Jacksonville State on Feb. 23.