The Northwestern State men’s basketball team once again turned Mike McConathy Court at Prather Coliseum into a pressure cooker Monday night, grinding its way through adversity before delivering a last-second 64–63 Southland Conference victory over UT-Rio Grande Valley.
Izzy Miles sank the game-winning free throw with 1.4 second to go, after Micah Thomas drained two from the line with 13 seconds left to forge a 63-all tie.
The Demons (6-11, 4-4) rallied from a 14-point deficit with 7:36 remaining, running off 13 unanswered points over the next three minutes. From there, Northwestern and the Vaqueros (6-11, 2-6) traded baskets until the final seconds when it all went NSU’s way.
Willie Williams ignited the comeback, going to work inside and finishing through contact while controlling the glass. At the same time, the Demons tightened their defensive rotations, cutting off driving lanes and forcing UTRGV into hurried possessions.
“We just decided we needed to pick it up,” Williams said. “We’ve been playing from behind a lot, and when Chris (Mubiru) checked back in, his energy really got us going. We matched it.”
Inside the final minute, the tension was palpable.
Mubiru drilled a clutch second-chance 3 to pull Northwestern within 63–61, and moments later, Miles jumped a passing lane to force a turnover, giving the Demons the ball with 20 seconds remaining and a chance to tie or take the lead.
Thomas drove the lane and was fouled, stepping to the line and knocking down both free throws to tie the game at 63.
UTRGV’s final possession ended with a contested miss at the rim, and in the ensuing scramble, Miles was fouled with 1.4 seconds left. He stepped to the stripe and buried the first free throw to give Northwestern the lead.
“We needed a stop,” Miles said. “Coach told me we had to get it back, and I trusted myself to make the free throw.”
The second attempt missed, and the Vaqueros’ desperation heave fell short as time expired.
Thomas led Northwestern with 17 points and five assists, scoring 13 in the second half, including 11 in the final 10 minutes. Williams added 14 points and eight rebounds in a relentless interior performance.
“I’m proud of our guys,” NSU coach Rick Cabrera said. “We didn’t play our best for 40 minutes, but we played well at the right time. We got stops, made big shots, and found a way.”
The Demons return to action Saturday when they travel to face UIW in San Antonio.
