NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The Northwestern State men’s basketball team clawed within striking distance late, but a cold shooting start and Stephen F. Austin’s free throw aim down the stretch sent the Demons to a 69–67 loss to the Southland Conference leading Lumberjacks Tuesday afternoon inside William R. Johnson Coliseum.
The Demons (6-14, 4-7) trimmed a double-digit second-half deficit to two in the final seconds and held the Lumberjacks without a field goal over the final 4:32.
However, Stephen F. Austin (18-3, 11-1) did just enough at the free throw line to secure the SLC victory and its sixth straight win. It was NSU’s third straight loss by a combined six points.
“We were better defensively at the end of the game,” said third-year NSU coach Rick Cabrera. “(We gave up) no field goals in the last four-and-a-half minutes. But now it’s about putting offense and defense together at the right time.”
Trailing 64–59 with just over four minutes remaining, Northwestern tightened defensively and made one final push.
Senior Willie Williams scored twice in the paint in the final minute to pull Northwestern within three, and the Demons nearly forced a turnover on the ensuing possession.
Jerald Colonel’s diving save preserved the possession, however, leading to Keon Thompson — the game’s leading scorer and reigning Southland Player of the Week — heading to the free-throw line with 10 seconds remaining.
Thompson’s two free throws pushed the margin back to five, effectively sealing the outcome.
SFA led for almost the entire contest, racing ahead 18-3 in the opening minutes. Behind 16 points from Chip Brunt, Northwestern fought back within 37-32 at halftime and tied the game at 37, but the Lumberjacks ran off seven straight points and pushed the lead to as many as 11.
Micah Thomas carried the Demons offensively in the second half, scoring repeatedly off the dribble. Williams added consistent production inside as the Demons chipped away, cutting the deficit to four with 5:47 remaining before SFA answered with its final field goal of the afternoon.
Brunt’s 16 points in just seven minutes of first-half action came while shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.
“Chip really woke us up in the first half,” says Cabrera. “If he doesn’t have the half he had, I don’t know where we’d be going into halftime. He gave us a huge lift.”
SFA’s Thompson led all scorers with 27 points on an efficient 11-of-17 shooting performance.
“He’s the straw that stirs the drink,” Cabrera said. “That dude is the LeBron James of the Southland. He’s so strong, gets to his spot and doesn’t get rattled. We had moments with our game plan, but we’ve got to be better.”
Northwestern received balanced offensive production with Thomas and Brunt combining for 37 points. Thomas finished with 18, including 14 in the second half, while Brunt paced Northwestern with a career-high 19.
Despite not scoring in the first half, Williams recorded his third double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The Demons go south to New Orleans for a Saturday matchup against the Privateers.
