LAKE CHARLES – The Southland Conference season opens tonight for the Northwestern State men’s basketball team as it faces one of the toughest possible introductions, traveling to take on reigning two-time league champion McNeese.
Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will stream live on ESPN+. The game can be heard on radio on the Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches.
After a demanding non-conference schedule, the Demons (1–6) enter league play looking for a reset and an opportunity to establish themselves against the conference’s benchmark program.
Head coach Rick Cabrera noted the unusual early timing for league play but said the team is ready for the challenge.
“It’s a little different,” Cabrera said. “It was weird seeing McNeese open with Incarnate Word the other night (Monday), but that’s just the layout of our league. These were the dates that worked best around the other scheduled games. We’re excited for it and looking forward to Friday.”
Northwestern aims to build on several positives from its most recent outing – a 75-73 loss to Southern on Nov. 29 – including a balanced offensive attack and an energized second-half performance.
Senior guard Micah Thomas continues to anchor the offense, coming off another strong scoring effort where he knocked down key second-half shots and kept NSU within reach.
The return of senior forward Willie Williams added toughness on the interior after he delivered 12 points and nine rebounds in his season debut, while junior guard Chris Mubiru continues to trend upward after providing a spark off the bench with timely shooting and playmaking.
Cabrera said the group’s recent practices have reflected a team beginning to tighten its rotations and sharpen its defensive commitment.
“We have to find the right group of guys that can defend for 40 minutes,” Cabrera said. “That’s been our biggest issue, but with conference play coming up, I think we can change that because of how important these games are. When our team is locked in, we can play with anyone.”
McNeese (6-2, 0-1) returns home after dropping its league opener 71-67 at UIW, a game in which the Cowboys were outscored 24–9 from 3-point range, but they still hold the number one spot in 15 team statistical categories in conference play.