The Northwestern State men’s basketball team will maintain its tradition of a challenging non-conference slate in 2024-25.

Head coach Rick Cabrera announced his team’s 31-day schedule – which features five power-conference opponents – Thursday.
 
“Everyone wants to see where they are against those high-major levels,” head coach Rick Cabrera says.
 
NSU opens the season against Dallas Christian on Nov. 4, making it the second straight year that the Demons will begin the season on their home court at Prather Coliseum.
 
The next three games for Northwestern will be on the road, going up against powerhouses Texas Tech and Oklahoma, and finishing up the three-game road trip at Rice.
 
“It’s a great test for us,” Cabrera says. “You have to have the mentality to go in there and try to win the game. These types of games will prepare us for when we play teams in our conference. I love my guys’ chances in every game we have.”
 
The Demons continue their non-conference powerhouse schedule at LSU (Nov. 29), making it the 28th time the Tigers and Demons face off, finally finishing off their SEC double-dip with Texas (Dec. 29). amid their SEC run, NSU heads to the West Coast in a first-time battle against Cal-Berkeley (Dec. 14)
 
Sandwiched in between those two road games are two Southland Conference games against UIW (Dec. 5) and Houston Christian (Dec. 7) which will keep the Demons on the road, making it four straight road games for them.
 
Before heading out on the road, the Demons begin a three-game homestand with a multi-team event consisting of John Melvin (Nov. 19), ULM (Nov. 22), and North Alabama (Nov. 24) – their first time meeting with both John Melvin and North Alabama.
 
“I’m looking forward to it (MTE event),” says Cabrera. “We’re gonna call it the City of Lights. The teams that are coming here are pretty good. Most importantly, it gives our fans the opportunity to come watch us play. The more they see us play, the more they will show up during conference play.”
 
The Demons begin the year with five out of six home games – opening 2025 with Nicholls (Jan. 4), conference champs McNeese (Jan. 6), and against Texas A&M-Commerce (Jan. 11). Northwestern makes a quick trip to Corpus Christi (Jan. 13), before coming back home for two more games against Southern (Jan. 18) and New Orleans (Jan. 20).
 
“If you can get as many home games as you can, you take it,” explains Cabrera. “Once we get a crowd, some students, it really helps us and factors in to help us win against our conference foes.”
 
NSU flips its schedule, going on the road for five out of six games – at Stephen F. Austin (Jan. 25), heading south to face off against Lamar (Jan. 27), and finishing up the trip against Texas A&M-Commerce (Feb. 1).
 
Northwestern will fight for a bid in the Southland Conference Tournament which will be held at McNeese’s Legacy Center in Lake Charles from March 9-12.

For season tickets, the courtside seats are sold out, but VIP Seats are still available for – $380. That price includes a $250 donation to Demons Unlimited Foundation. Reserved seats for season tickets are $110.

For single game tickets, available are VIP Chairback Seats ($25), reserved seats (adult $10, youth (age 4-12) $5), DH Reserved Seats ($12, youth (age 4-12) $8), group general admission (25+ tickets) ($5), student guest admission ($5).

For NSU Students, admission is free with your student ID and current sticker.
 
Northwestern State basketball season tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. Visit NSUTickets.com or by calling 318-357-4268.