LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Gunnar Raborn booted his third field goal of the evening in the final quarter to give McNeese a 23-21 victory over Central Arkansas on Saturday night to claim the top spot in the Southland Conference standings.

Raborn, who had connected from 34 and 33 yards earlier, booted a 24-yard field goal with 7:27 remaining to reclaim the lead. The Bears answered with a six-play, 50-yard drive to set up Matt Cummins, but he missed the 43-yard attempt with 5:11 left.

McNeese (6-2, 5-1) and Central Arkansas (5-3, 4-2) entered the contest tied for the conference lead.

The Cowboys led most of the game until Carlos Blackman broke for a 39-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to give the Bears their only lead of the evening, 21-20.

Central Arkansas tied the game at 7-7 when Luke Hales hit Jakari Dillard on a 75-yard scoring strike early in the first quarter.

David Hamm and Cody Orgeron had touchdown runs for McNeese.

Hales led the Bears, throwing for 290 yards and two touchdowns, but he was intercepted twice.