Northwestern State basketball fans who enjoyed Saturday afternoon’s doubleheader sweep at Prather Coliseum by the Demons and Lady Demons also helped spread the joy of Christmas to many children in Natchitoches Parish.

Many of the 1,244 attending Saturday’s games brought toys to donate to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Toys for Tots program. Monday, NSU Athletics officials delivered over 1,000 toys to the NPSO.

Associate athletics director Adam Jonson (at left, above) and director of marketing and promotions Josh McDaniel (at right) delivered the toys, accepted by Carolyn Essex of the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff Victor Jones and his staff have managed a Christmas toy drive for many years to assist families in the parish so that children can enjoy the magic of the season.

The NSU women topped Jackson State 59-54 before the Demons thrashed Missouri Valley 105-79 in the last games for both NSU squads before Christmas. The Lady Demons resume their schedule at home Tuesday evening, Dec. 29 against Xavier while the Demons play the same night in Shreveport at Centenary.

Both teams begin Southland Conference play at home Saturday, Jan. 2, with an afternoon doubleheader against Houston Baptist. Another doubleheader follows Monday evening, Jan. 4, against Sam Houston State with NSU Athletics conducting its popular annual “Chili Cookoff” event that evening.